2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time
A friend invited me to an invitation-only wine-tasting event. There were over two hundred varieties of wine. Having no idea how to approach such a massive selection, I wandered aimlessly among the tables, sipping this and that. At the end of the evening my friend asked if I had tried some of the exceptionally expensive wines. I hadn’t. “The really good stuff disappears first,” he said. “My man, you missed out on some amazing vino.” I was so disappointed. I wasted my chance for amazing once-in-a-lifetime wine. The wine I tasted was, well, blah. Don’t we often feel a similar disappointment in life? I missed this or that opportunity. If only I had known. Optimism sputters and fades. The glory days are gone. The chances, it seems, for the really great things in life come and go so quickly. Then they are gone forever. The good stuff goes first. Then life is just blah. Not so with the Lord Jesus. In Jesus’ miracle at the wedding at Cana, the steward of the feast says, “Everyone serves good wine first, and then…an inferior one” (John 2:10). That’s the natural downward progression of life. The good stuff disappears quickly. But he says of the groom (who symbolizes Jesus), “But you have kept the good wine until now.” This is the ever-improving trajectory of the realm of God’s grace. With Jesus, the “good wine” of divine love, hope and peace gets better as our journey of faith progresses. Where are your greatest disappointments? Don’t give in to the lie that the really good stuff is gone. Tell Jesus you’ve run out. Then learn how to taste that amazingly good wine, because He saves the best until now. – Father John Muir
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
I have heard from some of you that it seems we have a second collection every week (my mother said the same thing about her parish) which is not exactly accurate because it is not every week. However, I admit it seems often. If you listen, you will hear us announce the second collection and include the word diocese. The majority of second collections are mandated by the diocese and we have no choice but to take up the collection. However, that does not mean you have to give anything to the second collection. Please do not misunderstand for the collections are important and go toward good causes. However, I also understand it can put a strain on one’s budget and often I realize people will end up giving less to the first collection which is for parish use which of course does not make me happy as a pastor.
This brings me to another complaint I have heard and that is the fact that it seems like we are having more fundraisers. Again, this is something that is needed and important for the parish but again, you don’t have to participate if you don’t care to or if it is putting a strain on your budget. I don’t want anyone to feel guilty or obliged to participate, but rather that you do so because you want to do it.
As a priest, my main concern and focus is your attendance at mass. All the rest is extra. I appreciate all those that participate and do not judge all those that do not participate. Not to be morbid but there is a way to support the parish that will not put a strain on your budget or add to your cost of living and that is to remember the parish in your last will and testament. Just a thought for we had a couple of people remember the parish in their wills which went a long way towards paying for the repairs needed at the parish.
God Bless you and have a wonderful week, Fr. Michael
PRAYER REQUESTS
That God will relieve their suffering and restore them to health. Please pray for Please pray for: Kellie Salata, Kelly Chinchar, Jessica, Daniel Breslin, Stanley, Helen Traina, Joseph Marrone, Bill Marshall, Anthony, Michael, Joseph, Jessica Esopo, William, Steve, Audra, Bernadette, James Weiss, Jim, Baby Ford, Rosemary Malangone, Elizabeth Malangone, Sue West, Danny, Colleen Emery, Richard, Joan Russo, Christina Martin, Mornia Evans, Valerie Valverde, Diana McGuckin, Manny Scarangella.
We would like to say a huge THANK YOU to Frank Cagas who replaced the obsolete boiler that powers the heat under our handicap ramp that melts the snow and ice. Mike Nasta assisted him and they saved our parish thousands of dollars.
Please consider sponsoring our Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, and the oil for the Sanctuary Lamp.
THANK YOU to Joan Vicenzotti and Maryrose Higgins for all the work they did organizing and bagging all the Christmas gifts for our Giving Tree. THANK YOU also to all our generous parishioners for the over-whelming response to the Giving Tree helping make Christmas so special.
MANY THANKS to all those who helped in decorating our Church for Christmas so beautifully!
Opportunities for Parish Support
There are several ways you can help support our parish and honor loved ones at the same time. As you may have noticed on the first Sunday of every month in our bulletin, we thank the donors of our Altar Gifts. You can donate the Bread & Wine, Altar Flowers, or the Sanctuary Lamp in a two-week block for $50 in someone’s memory. We have blocks open for this year. We also need to purchase a new Easter candle each year (the tall candle on the altar) for $300-$400 which can also be donated in someone’s memory. You do not have to fund the entire amount, anything you wish to donate towards the purchase of our Easter candle is appreciated. We also have masses available for your intentions. If you wish to honor someone in any of these ways, please call the rectory.
Prayer for our Nation
God our Father, giver of life, we entrust the United States of America to your loving care. You are the rock on which this nation was founded. You alone are the true source of our cherished rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Reclaim this land for your glory and dwell among your people. Send your Spirit to touch the hearts of our nation’s leaders. Open their minds to the great worth of human life and the responsibilities that accompany human freedom. Remind your people that true happiness is rooted in seeking and doing your will. Through the intercession of Mary Immaculate, patroness of our land, grant us the courage to reject the “culture of death.” Lead us into a new millennium of life. We ask this through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
Praying the ROSARY
The Rosary is a meditation, a time to recall and think about the life of Jesus as seen and experienced by Mary. As the model of faith, Mary’s life sets a pattern that we strive to follow: saying ‘yes’ to God’s will in our lives and sharing His love and message with others. The Mysteries of the Rosary form a mini lesson of faith, using the highlights and significant moments of the life of Jesus. Like paging through a family scrapbook, we see in brief the events of salvation history that are the core of our belief and the hope of our eternal life.
OUR ADVERTISERS OF THE WEEK
WE NEED BULLETIN ADVERTISERS!!
We would like to thank all the advertisers who have supported us throughout the past year. Our parish benefits greatly from the ads you see in the bulletin. The revenue pays for the printing which is an important means of communication for the parish. If we do not have enough advertisers, the cost of our bulletin goes up. We thank the local businesses that advertise with us especially in these tough economic times. We have some spaces on the back of our bulletin that need filling so if you would like to advertise your business as well as benefit your church, please contact John Patrick Publishing at 1-800-333-3166.
Please support our advertisers at the back cover of bulletin.