12, 13 January 2013 * First Sunday after Epiphany
St. Joseph Maronite
Catholic Church
3 Appleton Street, Waterville, ME 04901-6630
Office: Phone: 207-872-8515E-Mail:
Pastor: The Rev. Larry Jensen
Deacon: Rev. Mr. Peter P. Joseph 872-2225 Subdeacon: Steve Crate 872-9257
NEW Web Site Address: http://www.sjmaronite.org
“The Eastern Rites are the Treasure of the Catholic Church” Pope John XXIII
Liturgies: Saturday 4:00 p.m., * Sunday 10:00 a.m. * Tuesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. in the St. Jude Chapel
The Miraculous Medal and the St Jude Novenas are on Tuesday following the 9 a.m. Liturgy
Sick Calls: To receive the Eucharist and/or the Anointing of the Sick, Please call Fr. Larry.
Confessions: A Half-hour before all scheduled Liturgies, emergencies, and by appointment.
Baptisms: Call the Office
Marriage: Call the Office 6 months before you finalize a date for your wedding and book your reception.
*Suggested donation for the Sanctuary Candles, St. Jude Chapel $20, St Joseph Church $20, for the Altar Bread, $25, and the Wine, $25.
Suggested offering for Liturgies: $10 for weekdays - $15 for weekends.
Choir Director: Fefa Deeb DRE: 3-5 Lenore Boles
Sacristans: Yvonne Nemer, Theresa Nemer Teachers K-1 Rosanna Joseph
Laurie Nale 2 Jane Lee
“The Catholic Church, East and West, breaths as two lungs in the same body”
Blessed John Paul II
John 1:29-34 The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. He is the one of whom I said, ‘A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known to Israel.” John testified further, saying, “I saw the Spirit come down like a dove from the sky and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘On whomever you see the Spirit come down and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”
Dear Parishioners and Friends,
John, the Baptizer, tells us he believes that Jesus is the Son of God. He was blessed because even when he was in the womb of his mother Elizabeth, the Spirit of God touched him and he was moved with joy. That is one of the signs of the Holy Spirit, to be moved to act with joy. Today, John is moved with joy again because he was faithful to his calling and while carrying out his calling, he meets up with his cousin Jesus.
The explanation of Jesus being baptized is within the message of coming to take away sin and one of the ways is through baptism. Jesus is identified as the sacrificial Lamb. For Israel, they could reflect on the Lamb’s blood that protected their first-born when they were slaves in Egypt.
God had called John to baptize and prepare the way for Jesus by calling Israel to repent of their sins. Deadly (mortal) sin separates us from God. There is sin that does not separate from God, (venial) completely, but has the potential of develop into a sin more grave.
We are included in the message of repenting to heal our relationship with God, our self and others. John’s baptism did not take away sins, but it brought the hearts and minds of those who accepted his preaching to be open to the One Who can take us away from the world of sin. All that is wrong with the world is going to come to an end. If we are baptized with the Holy Spirit we have begun to enjoy what is good and are learning through prayer and scripture how to increase this joy and diminish the evil and sorrow in our world.
To talk of sin, is not pleasant, it is not supposed to be, and there is nothing “nice” about it. Sin is the fall, which is a way of saying we are not standing right before God and one another. The most degrading aspect of sin is that we die. Anything that brings this about is the wages of sin. This does not mean we say, “I am dying so I must have sinned,” it is the effects of the original sin of Adam that all die. Christians say that because of the death of the new Adam, we all can now live forever. Live your Baptism. Live your faith through a supernatural love. Aboona
PRAY FOR THE SICK OF THE PARISH
Heal Your servants, who are sick,
O Lord, and send them help
And comfort from Your holy place.
Those who seek our prayers: Grace Crowther, Dianne Fjeldheim, Herb Jabar, Albert Joseph, Gerald Joseph, Kendra Maroon, Hope Murphy, Tala Poulin, and Virginia Poulin.
Be sure to let Aboona know if you would like a name added or removed.
Church Etiquette
Refrain from long and loud conversations, no food or drinks in church, no leaving of pews during the reading of the Gospel and the Consecration of the Bread and Wine, Check to see if your cell phone is off. Modest clothing is expected and appreciated.
Priests, Hospital and Medical Care Facilities
When you are admitted to a hospital or care facility you are asked your religion and where you are a church member. This does not mean your priest or minister will be notified.
Because of HIPAA laws regarding privacy, hospital staff, Eucharistic Ministers, and Deacons, are not allowed to tell your minister or priest.
God bless Deacon Peter, since he is on staff at the hospital, “he knows where you are”, and so he can give you communion. Because of the HIPAA law, I very rarely know you are there, unless you personally give him permission to tell me, or you or a family member informs me directly.
Liturgy Helps:
Be sure your cell phone is off or silenced
2nd Collection – Jan 13 Catholic School Subsidy
Jany 27 World Missions.
Liturgy will begin page 25, Pre-Anaphora p-79
Anaphora of St. Sixtus on page 109
Liturgy Intentions
Sat 12 4:00 p.m.
† Robert Brouillard
By Gerard E. Brouillard
Sun 13 10:00 a.m.
† Douglas Day
By the Family
When the servers go to the side altar, those who will be carrying the gifts may go at this time.
Mon 14 Father’s day off for prayer,
reflection, and relaxation
Tue 15 9:00 a.m. (Communion Service)
† Jeannette Marie Sleiman
By John Sleiman
Wed 16 9:00 a.m. (Communion Service)
† Jeannette Marie Sleiman
By John Sleiman
Thu 17 9:00 a.m. (Communion Service)
† Jeannette Marie Sleiman
By John Sleiman
Fri 18 9:00 a.m. (Communion Service)
† Caroline Nale
By Mark & Laurie Nale
Sat 19 4:00 p.m.
† Ann Joseph
By John Thomas, Sr.
Sun 20 10:00 a.m.
† Howard Virgin
By Dan & Pam Casavant
January Devotions
Sanctuary Candles
St. Joseph 14 days Sanctuary Candle
Special Intention
By Dominick & Genevieve Rinaldi
St. Jude 7 Day Sanctuary Candle
Special Intention
By Dominick & Genevieve Rinaldi
Altar Bread:
Special Intention
By Dominick & Genevieve Rinaldi
Altar Wine:
Special Intention
By Dominick & Genevieve Rinaldi
Last Weeks Collection
Regular Collection $2,367.00
God bless you for your generosity
If you are not receiving envelopes and would like to start, please let the office know.
Gone a lot? Please consider electronic giving.
2013 Contribution reports are ready to give out.
Food Pantry - January
Apple sauce Beef ravioli
Hearty soups 100% fruit juice in plastic bottles
Thank you for caring!
Birthdays in January
3 / Anna Mitchell / 18 / Jackson Jabar6 / Sarah Nale / 18 / Lauren Jabar
6 / Rocky Elias / 19 / Paul Maroon
6 / Gwendolyn Nale / 19 / Peter P Maroon Sr.
11 / Robert Derosby / 19 / Gordon Webber
11 / Diane J Joseph / 20 / Paul J Mitchell
11 / Jacob Bearce / 23 / Jordan Maroon
11 / Mary Jo Hodgkin / 25 / Peter J Joseph
13 / Peter M Joseph Jr. / 25 / Laurie Nale
13 / Charles George / 26 / Nancy Elias
14 / Ken Clark / 26 / Jason Jabar
14 / Matthew Crate / 26 / Norman Mathieu
18 / Cody Veilleux / 27 / David A Veilleux
18 / Giselle Jabar
Let Aboona know if you would like your name added to the Birthday and/or Anniversary list.
Calendars 2013 Are in!
Please feel free to take one calendar per family for now, until we are sure everyone has received one.
Anniversaries for January
1 / Gayle & Brent Maroon11 / Nancy & Freddy Karter
13 / Cynthia & Richard Elias
Parish Council Commissioning
Next week, Jan 13 the Parish Council will be formally commissioned to serve.
Members: David Elias, Frank Griffin, David Lee, Gerald Joseph, Rosanna Joseph, Kevin Michaud, Susan Mitchell, Katrina Plourde, and Aaron Rowden.
Ex-officio: Deacon Peter Joseph, Subdeacon Stephen Crate, Lenore Boles, DRE, Paula Mitchell, Rosary Sodality.
READERS SCHEDULE
First Sunday after Epiphany
2 Corinthians 10:1-11 John 1:29-34
4 p.m. Jan 12 Lila Hallowell
10 a.m. 13 Lauraine Mansur
Sunday of Priests
1 Timothy 4:6-16 Luke 12:42-48
4 p.m. Jan 19 Lenore Boles
10 a.m. 20 Lauraine Mansur
EVENTS FOR JANUARY
Sun 13 Commissioning of the Parish Council
Sun 13 Rosary Sodality Meeting
Mon 14 Maronite Priest Retreat in Florida
Fri 25 Aboona returns from Florida
Sat 26 Introduction to Parish Commisions at Liturgy
Sat 26 Public Turkey Dinner sponsered by
The Immaculate Heart KofC
Sun 27 Introduction to Parish Commisions at Liturgy
EVENTS FOR FEBRUARY
Sun 3 Relgious Education & MYO
Super Bowl Breakfast
Tue 5 7-8 p.m. Eucharistic Holy Hour
Sun 10 Rosary Sodality Meeting
Sun 10 Majdra Dinner and Talant Show
Mon 11 Ash Monday
Fri 15 4:30 – 6:30 Haddock Dinner
15 6:45 p.m. Lenten Devotions
Coffee Schedule
01/13/13 / Kelly Elias / Theresa Nemer01/20/13 / Cindy Elias / Nancy Elias
01/27/13 / Paula Mitchell / Anna Mitchell
02/03/13 / Mary Jo Hodgkin / Jane Lee
02/10/13 / Jody Veilleux / Mary Hawes
02/17/13 / Mary Nader / Roseanna Joseph
02/24/13 / Laya Joseph / Jan Bourque
03/03/13 / Maureen Lee / Jeanne Thomas
Explaining the Catholic Faith
These articles are from the following link:
http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/apologetics
The answers to the questions are not for us to confront and antagonize others, but to be able to offer biblical insight and explanations when we are aggressively pressured by those who question and want us to abandon the Catholic Faith.
I heard criticism about the luxuriousness of the Vatican and St. Peter's, while there are so many poor people. Where did the money come from to build these things? How much of parish money goes "to the Pope"? Can you please give me some defense of this line of questioning?
First of all, if someone is critical of the Vatican, are they also critical of the Temple of Solomon (1 Kings 6)? By all accounts, the Temple of Solomon would have made the Vatican look rather poor by comparison. Should the Israelites not have built the Temple of Solomon? Should they have used all the resources that went into it to feed the poor instead?
John L. Allen, Jr., Vatican correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter, mentioned the following in a talk he gave for the “Church in the 21st Century Initiative,” a few years ago:
“Contrary to popular impression, the Vatican is a spartan operation. Its annual operating budget is about $277 million. The University of Notre Dame's annual operating budget, by comparison, is $700 million. The Vatican's endowment is about $770 million. By contrast, the University of Notre Dame's endowment is $3.1 billion. The Holy See is indeed in need of financial support from the Catholic world, and American Catholics usually supply about 25 percent of the annual operating budget.
“What about the artwork—the Pietà, the Raphael frescoes, and so on? These treasures are literally priceless, but they appear on the Vatican books with a value of one euro. According to the [laws] of the Vatican City State, they may never be sold or borrowed against.”
The "wealth" of the Vatican has accumulated over the centuries and is basically artwork, historical documents, and buildings. The Vatican views these buildings, historical documents, and works of art as belonging to all peoples - they are merely under the care of the Vatican. They are not for sell because the Vatican doesn't view them as its personal property too sell. Why not sell all the works of art in the Louvre? Or in New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art? Why not sell the Mona Lisa to feed the poor? Why don't museums sell off their Rembrandts and Van Goghs and Picassos to feed the poor?
Again, from John Allen’s essay: “About 20 years ago, Peter Drucker, the management consultant, concluded that the three most efficient organizations in history were General Motors, the 19th-century Prussian Army, and the Catholic Church. He put the Church on his list because it manages to hold a worldwide organization together with an exceptionally small central headquarters. For the 1.1 billion Catholics, there are about 1,700 people working in the [Vatican]. As Drucker pointed out, if the same ratio were applied to our government in Washington, D.C., there would be 500 federal employees working in the capital, as opposed to roughly 500,000.”