1. religion and spirituality
2. christianity
3. catholicism

Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
14-15 February 2015
Pope John XXIII Parish
at St. Nicolas de Flue
The English-speaking Roman Catholic Parish of Geneva
57, Rue de Montbrillant
CH 1202 Genève
www.johnxxiii.ch
Fr. Richard De Lord, Parish Priest
Fr. Paul C. Friel, Assistant Priest
Tel: 022 733 04 83
Fax: 022 919 19 30
[email protected]
Emergency No. 079 845 2804
"I do will it. Be cured." (Mk. 1:41)
In today’s reading we meet our compassionate Lord
moved with pity to heal the leper by both His word
and physical touch.
The leper begs Jesus “If you want to, you can make
me clean”. While we may ponder the miracle of the
physical healing of a contagious disease that has
disfigured and made the leper an outcast – isolating
him from his family, society as well as religious
practices, there is an additional healing that takes
place. The leprosy, (known as Hansen disease
today), is synonymous with uncleanliness – which is
a powerful symbol of our sinfulness. Our sinfulness
similarly brings about a disfigurement of our soul,
resulting in isolation from ourselves, our fellow man
as well as from our God.
Jesus notices the leper’s physical distress and is
moved with pity and compassion. His words “I do
want it. Be clean” is reassuring both for our physical
as well as our spiritual healing. Jesus not only
healed the leper by word but also by touch – a touch
of compassion and connection. He physically
connected with the leper, showing that He felt the
man’s pain – and our pain too and that He heals not
as a servant but as our Lord.
Similarly Jesus shows that He is prepared to trade
places and be the sacrifice for our sinfulness.
Despite the fact that Jesus instructed the leper to tell
no one of his healing but
show himself instead to
the priest and take his
offering as ordered by
Moses, the leper in his
excitement
starts
spreading the news of his
healing. This results in
Jesus becoming the
outcast as He can no
longer openly enter the
towns and now needs to live outside the city walls.
What about us? Jesus invites us to come to Him to
ask forgiveness and healing. In His compassion
and love, Jesus will physically touch us and cleanse
us from our sinfulness. He restores our soul, our
separation from ourselves, our fellow man and most
importantly from our loving God. As Catholics we
can experience this spiritual healing through the
Sacrament of Reconciliation and be led to the
thanksgiving sacrifice of the Eucharist.
As we prepare for Lent, we may want to reflect on
the areas where we need forgiveness and healing
and how we can give Him thanks for His continued
love and compassion.
Petra Linder,
Parishioner
MASS SCHEDULE for FEBRUARY 16 - 22
SACRAMENTS
Mon, Feb 16
Tue, Feb 17
18:30 (English)
Wed, Feb 18
12:45 (English) Ash Wednesday
18:30 (English) Ash Wednesday
Thu, Feb 19
12:45 (English)
Fri, Feb 20
07:30 (English)
12:45 (English)
Sat, Feb 21
18:30 (English)
Sun, Feb 22
08:30
10:00
11:30
19:00
(English)
(English)
(English)
(English) at Notre Dame Basilica
MARRIAGE All couples planning to marry should register with us
by calling the Parish Office. (Six months notice is the usual
requirement.)
MINISTRY TO THE SICK At home or in hospital? To receive the
Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick or Holy Communion, please
contact one of the priests, or a Eucharistic Minister for a visit.
RECONCILIATION The Sacrament of reconciliation (Confession) is
available before and after each weekday Mass upon request or by
prior arrangement. It will also be offered in the Chapel every
Saturday from 17:15-18:00.
BAPTISM Baptisms are usually celebrated on the 4th Saturday of
each month at 12 noon. Deadline for registration is the 7th of the
month. Please call the Parish Office to register.
14-15 February 2015
Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Feb 18, Ash Wednesday
marks the beginning of the
holy season of Lent. It is a
day of
fasting and
abstinence.
Please note
that the Mass and the
distribution of ashes will take
place at 12:45 and 18:30.
Calling all performers!
St. John XXIII Parish will be
hosting another Lenten drama in
the form of a Living Stations of
the Cross to be held on Apr 3
(Good Friday). Anyone from
age 11 who is interested in
being an actor or reader, please contact Youth
Minister Emily Toole at [email protected] for
more information.
Throughout Lent
Every
Monday:
Feb 23
18:30 Adoration and Night Prayer
Mar 2, 9, 16,
23, 30
Every
Wednesday:
Feb 25
18:00 Stations of the Cross
Mar 4, 11, 18.30 Mass
18,
25
Every
Friday:
Feb 20, 27
Mar 6, 13,
20, 27
07:30
12:15
12.45
18:00
19:30
Mass
Station of the Cross
Mass
Adoration and Benediction
Lenten Taizé Prayer
Penitential
Services
12:45 Mar 16 (Mon)
19:00 Mar 19 (Thu)
Food Pantry
The Parish provides a bag of
provisions in order to ease the
daily basic needs of the
homeless in our community.
Parishioners’ contributions to the
"Food Pantry" is always greatly appreciated.
Keep in mind that the recipients of the pantry are
homeless, so they have no means to cook food.
Canned or packaged foods that do not need to be
cooked are ideal. Contributions to the "Food
Pantry" may be dropped off at the Parish Office
during office hours or after Mass during
weekends.
"I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty
and you gave me drink." (Mt. 25:35)
Soup Kitchen
On Feb 20 (Fri. lunchtime), our
Parish will once again help out in
supporting the Soup Kitchen,
operated by Carrefour-rue. Volunteers and cash
donations are needed (any amount is welcome).
Cash donations can be paid through the Parish
Office or credited to the following account:
UBS Currrent Account CHF
Account no:240-255357.00U
IBAN:CH76 0024 0240 2553 5700 U
Please indicate: "Contribution to the Soup
Kitchen". Thank you very much for your
generosity! Should you have any questions,
please email Sr. Merlyn through the Parish Office.
Lenten evening reflection
A series of three evening
reflections based on
audio-visual material will
take place at 19:15 in
the Parish House on:
• Mar 9 (Mon)
• Mar 16 (Mon)
• Mar 23 (Mon)
Exhibition Invitation
The friends of Associazione
Volontari per i Servizio
Internazionale (AVSI), in
collaboration with the ecclesial
movement of Communion and Liberation (CL) of
Geneva cordially invite all Parishioners of St.
John XXIII to an exhibition on the humanitarian
work of AVSI on Feb 21 (Sat) 2015, at 15:00 in
the Parish Hall. The exhibition will feature a talk
by Dr Alberto Reggiori, a missionary doctor who
spent many years in Uganda; as well as AVSI
experiences aiding communities and Christians in
difficult situations, particularly in Uganda and Iraq.
The event is part of a series of activities
culminating in a joint presentation AVSI is
planning in collaboration with the Papal Nunzio
that will take place in June at the United Nations
Office in Geneva. Light refreshments will be
served. All are invited and encouraged to bring a
friend.
14-15 February 2015
Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
help: “Lighten the load”
Scripture from Scratch
The group meets every Friday at
11:00 in the Parish House.
Young catholics
The group meets in Room
BC1 every Wednesday at
19:00. For further info, please
contact:
[email protected]
Zumba
Please note that Zumba sessions
are on break for vacation on Feb
19. Sessions resume on Feb 26
(Thu).
Walking with Purpose
We are in the third week of our four-week
marathon appeal to “Lighten the Load”. Our
appeal ends next weekend, so please
remember to bring in your completed pledge
forms. Thank you.
Particular thanks to those who organized the
World Wine Tour last September.
The net
proceeds (CHF9,414) all go to “Lighten the Load”.
Parish database
A new Parish Directory will
soon be released. To ensure its
accuracy, please register
online for newcomers. For
already registered parishioners,
please email any updates to
[email protected].
Weekend collections
Last weekend (Feb 7-Feb 8), the amount of
CHF3,849 was collected for the needs of our
Parish community.
This weekend (Feb 14-15), the collections will
also go towards supporting the needs of our
Parish community. The second collections will go
towards helping to repay the loans received for
our move.
Next weekend (Feb 21-22), the collections will go
towards supporting the needs of our Parish
community.
Thank you for your
generosity!
Come and experience Scripture
with other women of our Parish
and learn more about the
women’s Bible study group! The
group meets every Thursday at
12:00.
As a sign of respect during
moments of prayer and worship,
and as a sign of courtesy to
those around, please turn off
your cell phones and pagers
before entering the Church.
Need to Talk?
If you need
confidential
talk about
family issues,
divorce,
separation, depression, unemployment or
any of the many other things that cause
hurt, consider contacting the caring ministry
via
e-mail: [email protected].
Corner
Sick or housebound?
If you would like a priest to call, either at
home or at the hospital, please contact the
Parish Office, or the priests directly. In
case of emergencies, you can use a new
especially designated number: 079 845
2804.
Recently lost a loved one and would like
to talk?
Please contact a member of our Bethany
Group through Lynne Gamble through the
Parish Office.
MINISTRY ROSTER for FEBRUARY 14-15 and 21-22
Saturday - Sunday, February 14-15
Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time
Saturday, February 21, 18:30
First Sunday of Lent
Eucharistic Ministers: P. Mc Shee, M. Dizon
Readers: E. Valdez, A. Marchetti
Ushers: P. Belga, C. Ella, A. Macamus
Greeters: P. Belga, C. Ella, A. Macamus
Servers: M. Zignol, G. Cabos, JP Aloysius
Flower Arrangement: M. Calimbas
Saturday, February 14, 18:30
Sunday, February 22, 8:30
Eucharistic Ministers: B. Bell
Readers: Y. Sartorius, M. Fadriquela
Ushers: A. Taylor
Greeters: E. Mejorada
Coffee: M. & B. Bell
Servers: G. Cabrera, M. Mamangun, A. Eland
Eucharistic Ministers: M. Castillo, R. Schwerzmann
Readers: E. Valdez, P. Mc Namara
Ushers: P. Belga, A. Thiel
Greeters: P. Belga, A. Thiel
Servers: M. Zignol, G. Cabos, JP Aloysius
Sunday, February 15, 8:30
Sunday, February 22, 10:00
Eucharistic Ministers: B. Bell
Readers: V. Barnes, K. Erpe
Ushers: K. Mnisi
Greeters: K. Mnisi
Coffee: A. Taylor
Servers: G. Cabrera, M. Mamangun, A. Eland
Eucharistic Ministers: C. Sandoval, M. Mc Shee, G. Titus
Readers: D. Maramba, B. Simpson
Ushers: R. Salcedo, M. Zabala, C. Acaso
Greeters: E. de Leon
Coffee: S. Amboy
Servers: A. Redly, A. Gannon, R. Pinazo, G. Pagdilao
Sunday, February 15, 10:00
Sunday, February 22, 11:30
Eucharistic Ministers: A. Anaedu, L. Gumba, A. Sandoval
Readers: J. Whitford, D. Roney
Ushers: R. Salcedo, D. Banguilan
Greeters: M. Zabala, M. Richtering
Coffee: Zijlstra Family
Servers: A. Roney, A. Martins, A. Sandoval, D. Blumer
Eucharistic Ministers: F. Kofi, N. Oloo, B. Olexa
Readers: A. Ebbinghaus, C. Jorgen
Ushers: O. Amigo, E. Barba, D. Analupa, L. Manaoang, K. Nthebe
Greeters: E. Manalo, R. de Leon, T. Liete
Coffee: O. Amigo, M. Rojo
Servers: J. Oloo, C. Ruane, G. Benitez
Sunday, February 22, 19:00
Mass at Notre Dame
Sunday, February 15, 11:30
Eucharistic Ministers: T. Baarde, Sr. M. Arsolon, U. Walsh
Readers: S. Mutheu, P. Dsouza
Ushers: C. Sarmiento, D. Macabuhay, S. de Mesa, M. Maraguelod
Greeters: Bendo Family
Coffee: C. Sarmiento
Servers: A. Taylor, K. Odigwe, I. Mapanao, A. Amboy
Eucharistic Ministers: E. Mejorada, W. Nicolas-Jomard
Readers: E. Lajom, J. Gaylord
Usher/Greeter: E. Mejorada, T. Tatad
Sunday, February 15, 19:00
Mass at Notre Dame
Masses are
at 12:45
and 18:30.
Eucharistic Ministers: D. Hill, B. Hernandez
Readers: H. Daily, D. Domingo
Usher/Greeter: E. Mejorada, T. Tatad
Bulletin Ads for JOHN XXIII
All contributions for the bulletin must be received
by Wednesday and can be sent via e-mail to
[email protected]. Note that the bulletin can
also be found on the Parish website.
Mon, Feb 16
Year I
Gn. 4:1–15, 25; Mk. 8:11-13
Tue, Feb 17
The Seven Founders of the Order of Servites
Gn. 6:5–8, 7:1-5, 10; Mk. 8:14-21
Wed, Feb 18
Ash Wednesday
Jl. 2:12-18; 2 Co. 5:20-6:2; Mt. 6:1-6, 16-18
Thu, Feb 19
St. Boniface
Dt. 30:15–20; Lk. 9:22-25
Fri, Feb 20
Is. 58:1-9a; Mt. 9:14-15
Sat, Feb 21
St. Peter Damian
Is. 58:9b-14; Lk. 5:27-32
Sun, Feb 22
Year B
First Sunday of Lent
Gn. 9:8-15; 1 P. 3:18–22; Mk. 1:12–15
18:30-21:00
19:00-21:30
19:00-21:00
19:00-21:00
12:00-13:45
17:45-18:45
19:30-21:00
16:30-18:15
18:00-20:00
12:30-16:30
15:30-18:30
G1
B7
G1
BO
G1
G1
Chapel
B7
B0
G 0-1
B7
Confirmation Mentors Meet
11:30 Choir
RCIA
Young Catholics
Walking w/ Purpose
Zumba
Taizé
Saturday choir
Filipino Prayer Group
Couples for Christ
Notre Dame Choir