FEAST OF THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY & JOSEPH December 27/28, 2008   Whom do you consider a wise person? Where do you seek wisdom?   Gospel Reflection (Luke 2:22, 39-40): The home of the Holy Family was a simple one. Jesus was a child who laughed and cried and played as other children do. Under the care of Mary and Joseph, Jesus learned about God’s covenant with the chosen people. He prayed with his parents in the synagogue. In a family warmed with faith and love and peace, he grew in wisdom, age, and grace.    Families are made up of people who belong to and care for one another in good times and in bad. Luke’s Gospel reminds us that Jesus understood what it means to be a part of a family. Ask him to help you to grow as he did, in wisdom, so that the grace of God will rest upon you too. Discussion Points for Gospel: How is faith communicated to children by their parents? How have your parents helped you to become a faithful person? What sentences in this reading help us to understand how Mary and Joseph helped Jesus to become a faithful human person? Can children also strengthen their parent’s faith? (--Sadlier “We Believe” www.webelieve.web.com)     MASSES FOR THE WEEK SATURDAY          5:15 pm     Marge Ruman - the Bayer & Jordan families SUNDAY               8:30 am     Russell & Harriet Dumont - the Oswald family                             10:30 am     In Thanksgiving for the past 50 years                                                  of marital bliss! - Dr. John Kroner MONDAY            12:15 pm     Area Needy TUESDAY             5:15 pm     Health of Barbara Petras - Wendy Serbonich WEDNESDAY      12:15 pm    Sick & Shut-ins of Our Parish THURSDAY        10:00 am     People of Our Parish FRIDAY               12:15 pm     Tony Udvardy SATURDAY           5:15 pm     Roy Cross - Pauline Rodgers SUNDAY                8:30 am     Alice Mulligan - Peggy Adelsberger  Epiphany                            10:30 am     Dr. Giacomo J. Buscaino - the Milazzo family                               6:15 pm     Marge Denhart - the Schreck family Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God January 1 New Year’s morning 10:00 am      office closes at noon on the 31st & all day January 1st PARISH CALENDAR: December 28 - January 4 SUNDAY              Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph                                9:30 am     Rosary                              10:30 am     Baptisms MONDAY                              12:15 pm     Mass TUESDAY                                5:15 pm     Mass WEDNESDAY                              12:15 pm     Mass                                                  (office closes at noon) THURSDAY        Mary, Mother of God                                Happy New Year!                              10:00 am    Mass                                                 (office closed) SATURDAY                              10:00 am     Religious Ed staff meeting                                4:15 pm     Reconciliation SUNDAY             Epiphany                                9:30 am     Rosary                              11:30 am     Prayers for Peace                              12:15 pm     Religious Ed classes                              12:30 pm     RCIA                                                    OU resident halls open
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 Feast of the Holy Family Sirach 3:2-6, 12-14 or Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3 Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5 or Psalm 105:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 Colossians 3:12-21 or 3:12-17 or Hebrews 11:8, 11-12, 17-19 Luke 2:22-40 or 2:22, 39-40 Epiphany Isaiah 60:1-6 Psalm 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13 Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 Matthew 2:1-12
QUESTIONS OF THE WEEK Feast of the Holy Family      Only the eyes of faith can recognize in a child born of such humble circumstances the long-awaited Savior of the world. In today’s Gospel, Simeon and Anna represent the faithful who are ever alert to recognize Christ’s presence. Adults: Do I long for Christ to be part of my life with the intensity and fidelity of Simeon and Anna? Children: Do I remember that I was born because God has a special plan for me, just as he did for the baby Jesus? CHRISTMAS FLOWER MEMORIALS In memory of the Chase family    and friends, from Mary Ann Chase In memory of A.J. Simon    and D.A. Simon, from Lynn A. Simon A BLESSING FOR A FAMILY AT THE NEW YEAR Blessed are you, our God, Font of each new year’s beginning. Your are the life of every family, From Abraham and Sarah To Mary and Joseph And in all who are your family by covenant. Blessed are you Who have given us the gift of our family And rebirth in the family of your Son’s disciples. As we take leave of a year grown old, Knit us together in deepening affection, And make us ready to embrace The new year’s promise and peril As a family filled with trust in you and in each other And in Jesus who is Lord for ever and ever. Amen. ST. FRANCIS SOCIETY    Because of the holiday season, we will not meet in January. The next meeting is Friday, February 6. Mass will be celebrated at 12:15 pm at CTK. A chili lunch in the Parish Center will follow. Joanne Prisley will speak about the history of the Catholic churches in Athens County. SACRED HEART RETREAT HOUSE    Plan now to reserve Tuesday, January 6, from 10:00 till 2:00 for a Day of Reflection at Sacred Heart Retreat House. This will be an Epiphany retreat. Call 740-667-0100 to make reservations. PRAYER/MEDITATION BOOKLETS    The new Living Faith booklets are available at the bulletin boards in church. The months of January, February and March are included in this issue.    We also have available the January issue of Living with Christ. These particular booklets are very well done. Each issue is $2.00, or you can purchase a yearly subscription for $15.00; contact the office for more information. LITURGY BITS AND BYTES Post Communion Prayer    Normally one stands for the post communion prayer. However, sometimes, because the people would have to sit down for the announcements, and stand again for the final blessing, the presiders invite the people to remain seated. The proper position for this prayer is standing. Pastoral considerations sometimes allow us to do otherwise. Copyright © 2008 Resource Publications, San Jose, CA	“... for my eyes have seen your salvation, which you prepared in sight of all the peoples...” BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES December 29 - January 4 Birthdays: Cristy Carbone, Eddie Drabold, Tommy Gdowski, Kathleen Gulino, Preston Hayes, Kathy Hecht, Julie Hendershott, Kyle Hone, Mike Krivicich, Pat Sauber, and Mary Lou Scott.   Students: Elissa Gilronan and Michelle Merker. Anniversaries: Ingrid & Chris Keesey (8th), Kathy & Gary Schumacher (41st!), Jona & Chris Moberg (20th), and Beth & Martin Kordesch (30th). Congratulations! PRAYERS FOR THE SICK    Let's be one in hope and prayerful presence to all on our prayer list and continue to pray for Kathi Hahn, Donna Hart, Don Dillinger, and Bill Rader. (Remembered in the petitions) MINISTRY SCHEDULE: Nancy is working on the ministry schedule for January-March. Please email her (nsand@ctkathens.org) or phone the office (592-2711) with dates you are NOT available. RESPECT LIFE    “If abortion is bad for children because it kills them, and we find out through good, solid research that abortion is harming the mental or physical well being of women -- and subsequently the fathers of those children as well as members of their extended families -- then at some point we will have to ask as a society, ‘if abortion is bad for all these people and causing all this damage, who is it good for?’ We all know the answer: the abortion industry.” (Olivia Gans, Director, American Victims of Abortion) A BLESSING FOR A HOME Blessed are you, our God. For love of us, you sent your only Son To light up our hearts and homes With your divine radiance. Bless our home And all who live within it. Help us to live our lives With love and grace That your presence may be seen In our daily acts of service, In our worship and family prayer, In our kindness toward our neighbors, And in our generosity toward guests. Bless us, Lord, That we may be a blessing To one another Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen. THANKS FROM A GIVING TREE RECIPIENT    We received a card from a family who was helped by our Giving Tree project. Here is what they said: “My family and I would like to thank the people of Christ the King for making our Christmas very memorable. The gifts, food, candy (for stockings) and gift card ($100.00!!!) came in at just the right time. I just home the people of Christ the King know the impact they have had on my family.”    The gifts and stockings were distributed to the families the week before Christmas. Watching their faces as they came in to pick up their gifts was a blessing and gift to us!