Statement for Triumph of the Cross Cathedral THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME January 26/27, 2008   In what ways is your faith a “light” to you? Where is there darkness that needs light?   Gospel Reflection (Matthew 4:12-17): Once again the gospel focuses on Jesus as the Promised One of the Old Testament. Jesus began his preaching in Galilee and is identified by Matthew as “the great light” foretold by Isaiah. Jesus’ first message to God’s people is a powerful one. He says that we should reform our lives, or repent, for “the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” Discussion Points for Gospel: “To repent” means that we take a complete change of direction in our lives. Jesus knew what repentance, or change of direction, meant, because he had just made a big change in his own life. After John was put in jail, he knew that preparing God’s people for the kingdom was now totally up to him. So he chose a place to live (Capernaum-by-the-sea) and “began to proclaim.” Jesus made a new beginning.    Chaim Potok, a Jewish novelist, once began one of his novels with the statement, “Beginnings are hard.” To repent means to begin again. When have you made a new beginning? How can you make a new beginning today in some area of your life? (--Sadlier “We Believe” www.webelieve.web.com)     MASSES FOR THE WEEK SATURDAY          5:15 p.m.     Frank Milazzo - Brother & family SUNDAY               8:30 a.m.     Kathleen Morrow - the Tysko family                             10:30 a.m.     People of Our Parish                               6:15 p.m.     Joseph & Elizabeth Minnozzi - Shirley Minnozzi MONDAY            12:15 p.m.     Tony Udvardy TUESDAY             5:15 p.m.      Religious Education children WEDNESDAY      12:15 p.m.     Frieda Shields - Wendy Serbonich THURSDAY          5:15 p.m.      Beulah Udvardy FRIDAY               12:15 p.m.     St. Francis Society members SATURDAY           5:15 p.m.     Shaun McKibben - the Schreck family SUNDAY                8:30 a.m.     Susie Shanmugham - Dr. Bill Biggs  4th Sunday of                  10:30 a.m.     Myrtle Bowling - Joyce & Lon Hamby    Ordinary Time           6:15 p.m.     People of Our Parish         PARISH CALENDAR: January 27 -February 3   SUNDAY            Third Sunday in Ordinary Time                                              Dads' Weekend                           9:00 a.m.     Pancake Breakfast                           9:30 a.m.     Rosary                          11:30 a.m.    Prayers for Peace                           4:30 p.m.     R.E. classes                           4:30 p.m.     Parent Meeting                           5:15 p.m.     Reconciliation TUESDAY                           6:30 p.m.     R.E. classes WEDNESDAY                           7:00 p.m.     Newman Community meeting THURSDAY                           1:00 p.m.     "the Needlers"                           5:30 p.m.     Ecumenical Earth Justice Group                           7:15 p.m.     R.C.I.A. FRIDAY                         12:15 p.m.     St. Francis Society Mass & Lunch SATURDAY                         Presentation of the Lord                           4:15 p.m.     Reconciliation SUNDAY            Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time                           9:30 a.m.     Rosary                         11:30 a.m.     Prayers for Peace                           4:30 p.m.     Religious Ed classes                           5:15 p.m.     Reconciliation THE END-OF-THE-YEAR FINANCIAL STATEMENTS HAVE BEEN SENT OUT. Please contact the office, 592-2711, if you have any questions about your statement.
Sunday Scripture Readings      Reflection on the Scriptures has become more and more a part of basic Christian spirituality. At times we would like to return to the Sunday Scriptures at home, but we do not have the missalette with us. At other times we may be interested in seeing just what came before or immediately after the reading for the day to gain more insights.      To encourage this encounter with the Scriptures, we will be including in the bulletin the scripture reading references for the current Sunday and the following Sunday. In addition, in our on-line bulletin we will have the actual links to the readings.	New American Bible Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Isaiah 8:23—9:3 Psalm 27:1, 4, 13-14 1 Corinthians 1:10-13, 17 Matthew 4:12-23 or 4:12-17 Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Zephaniah 2:3; 3:12-13 Psalm 146:6-7, 8-9, 9-10 1 Corinthians1:26-31 Matthew 5:1-12a
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Third Sunday in Ordinary Time      Today’s readings provide three servants of God who witness to the truth of God’s plan for salvation. Let us reflect on how we too can boldly proclaim the Gospel message. Adults: What can I do to prepare for the coming of God’s kingdom? Children: What one good thing could I do for my family which would show my love for Jesus? NEWMAN-SPONSORED PANCAKE BREAKFAST Sunday, January 27 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome; please join us! $4.00 all-you-can eat pancakes; $4.50 all-you-can-eat pancakes w/sausage; $2.50 for children's meals. VOCATIONS    Fr. Tim Shannon, Diocesan Director of Vocations, will be visiting from Sunday, January 27, through Wednesday, January 30. Fr. Shannon would be happy to meet with anyone with questions regarding vocational choices. THE BISHOP IS COMING!    Bishop Conlon will be visiting Athens for the DPSC dinner at the OU Inn. He will meet with students after the dinner on Tuesday, January 29, at 9:00 pm in the Parish Center.    He will be celebrating mass in the Parish Center Chapel on Wednesday, January 30, at 12:15.    He is available to meet with parishioners or students during the morning. Please contact Fr. Marty for details. NEWMAN COMMUNITY    Last week we had an education meeting and learned about the Vatican. Join us this Wednesday at 7:00 for an outreach meeting! THE SAINT FRANCIS SOCIETY    Members will celebrate First Friday Mass at Christ the King, on February 1 at 12:15 PM, followed by a Chili Luncheon and guest speaker, Fr. Dave Cornett, the new pastor of St. Mary of the Hills, Nelsonville, and Holy Cross Church, Glouster. KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS NEWS    The February meeting, scheduled for February 3rd, is cancelled. See you all March 2nd at 7:00 at the Hall. THE ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY    The regular monthly meeting will be Monday, February 4, at 7:00 pm in the CTK Parish Center. THIRD ANNUAL MARDI GRAS FEAST Tuesday, February 5, 4:00 - 10:00 p.m. Oak Room Restaurant $20 per person proceeds benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society WHY CATHOLIC? JOURNEY THROUGH THE CATECHISM    Christ the King and St. Paul’s parishes are continuing the program this Spring. This Lent instead of giving up something, let God give you a gift. Join a small group, and reflect on the Catholic understanding of conscience development centering on our freedom and responsibility, conscience, virtues, moral laws and grace this Lent.    Sign up after Mass on January 26-27 or February 2-3 or call Mary and Pat Reddan at 740-594-8591. If you are already a part of a small group, there is no need to complete a new sign up card unless you want to change groups. Simply contact your small group leader. The six-week sessions will begin the week of February 10 and continue through the week of March 16. This season’s book is Christian Prayer: Deepening My Experience of God. VOLUNTEERS NEEDED    Want to work on the new house being built by the Faith Build Coalition of Athens County Habitat for Humanity? Work days are Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, both half days and full days. To volunteer contact Brandi Mullins (brandi@athenshabitat.org or 592-0032) at the Habitat office. She will furnish directions to the Nelsonville site. LITURGY BITS & BYTES    The first part of the Eucharistic Prayer to follow the Holy, Holy, Holy is a statement of the good that God has done for us, and our praise of God for the goodness shown to us. This establishes the premise on which the rest of the prayer is based, that is, God’s goodness to us. Copyright © 2007 Resource Publications	“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES January 28 - February 3 Birthdays: George Bryant, Kathy Dawson, Bradley Fink, Helen Graham, Chris Grimm, Robert Hammer, Sina James, Ray Lent, Jenny Matteson, Brigid McSteen, Jean Sparhawk, Mark Spezza, and Naomi Stork. Anniversaries: Muriel & Paul Grim (41st) and Kathy & Joe Yanity (34th). Prayers for the Sick    Let's be one in hope and prayerful presence to all on our prayer list and continue to pray for Bill Rader. (Remembered in the petitions) REST IN PEACE    Please remember Frieda Shields in your prayers. Frieda, a longtime CTK parishioner and our former staff cook, passed away last Sunday. We will miss her.    Please also remember the Lee family. Christine’s uncle George Gutmanis died a week ago.    We offer our sympathy and prayers to both families. May Frieda, Mr. Gutmanis and all who have died, rest in the peace of our Lord. ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 6, MASSES (not a Holy Day of Obligation) 12:15 pm 4:15 pm 6:00 pm 8:00 pm Ashes will be distributed at all Masses in church. St. Paul’s Mass schedule: 8:00 am 12 noon 6:00 pm 7:30 pm LENT ACTIVITIES    Fish Fry: Fridays of Lent, from 5:00 until 7:00 p.m. at CTK. More details to follow in next week’s bulletin.    Stations of the Cross: Fridays of Lent at 6:00 p.m. RESPECT LIFE    Writing in the world’s most prestigious bioethics journal, Hastings Center Report (2007), Brown University professor Jacob M. Appel argues that assisted suicide should not only be available to the terminally ill, but also to people with a “purely psychological disease” if the suicidal person “rationally might prefer dignified death over future suffering.” As with abortion, euthanasia advocates started small and are not gradually expanding the “right” they advocate. NRL News, 8/07 PREGNANCY RESOURCE CENTER    The Pregnancy Resource Center (PRC) is currently looking for those volunteers who wish to show Christ’s love to women and families who may be struggling with a crisis pregnancy situation. Morning, afternoon, and evening shifts are available. If you would like a 2008 Volunteer Application (for the Athens Center or Nelsonville Satellite), need more information, or are interested in assisting with volunteer training needs, please call the PRC at 592-4700. MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER    Every February across the country candy, flowers, cards and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. Why not make this a special Valentine’s Day celebration and treat your lover by attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend?! You will discover what thousands of married couples have already experienced: fun, laughter, and the intimacy you enjoyed when you were dating!    The next weekend is February 15-17 in Akron. Call 330-305-9963 or email WorldwideME@aol.com or go to the website www.wwme.org