January 21, 2007

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sisters and brothers, the Holy Spirit gathers us together on this Lord’s Day to be fed at the tables of the word and Eucharist. Saint Paul tells us that if one part of the Body of Christ suffers, all the parts suffer with it. This is a day to rejoice in the fact that we are part of one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church. As members of that Church we are united with all who put their trust in the Lord Jesus. As we prepare to celebrate today’s Mass, let us be mindful of those members of the Body of Christ around the world who suffer.

MASS SCHEDULE

Jan.     20        4:30PM    People of St. John’s Parish

Jan.     21      10:00AM    Paul Ricciardi……Mary Jean Boughton & Mary Pidgeon

Jan.     25      12:15PM    Novena to the Miraculous Medal

Jan.     27       4:30PM     Elizabeth Delafano……………Betty, Mike & Michael

Jan.     28     10:00AM     Mary Garofalo……………...The Santoro Family

                                         

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS                                           

01/20:   A. Lotano & T. Lotano                         01/21:   C. Greene, W. Chura & M. Seider

01/27:   E. Feuerstein & C. Kiskiel 01/28:   A. Welch, L. Zautner & M. Perrella

                                                                                                                               

COMMENTATOR & LECTOR

01/20:   M. Burger                                                              01/21:   J. Carosella & D. Holodak

01/27:   E. Feuerstein & R. Nicolella                              01/28:   W. Chura & L. Lucas

               

ACOLYTES

01/21:  Vitas and Mattias Carosella                                   01/28:  Mark DiCerbo and Justin Aragosa

 

RAISING THE ROOF!  -We have raised $15,322.00!!!!  The Parish Council is FULL of HOPE that TOGETHER WE CAN DO IT!  Walt Chura

 

CALLED TO BE CHURCH – This month we begin the 18 month pastoral planning process with our local planning group.  This Sunday our local planning group representatives; Rosetta Burke, Walt Chura, Ed Feuerstein, Rick Johnson, Lynn Lucas & Butch Savage will be Commissioned at the 10 AM mass.

 

REGISTRATION – Many people call St. John’s their home parish, but never have registered.  Often we receive calls from the hospitals informing us that our parishioners have been hospitalized and we have no record of them!  Perhaps you have a child/children enrolled in our Religious Education program.  Help us to better serve you by taking a moment to complete a registration form. Registration forms are located in the front entrance of the church or you may use the form in this bulletin.  Completed forms may be placed in the offertory baskets or given to an usher. 

 

SALVATION ARMY SOUP KITCHEN – On Jan. 5th we served 149 meals!  Our next date to serve is Friday Feb. 16th.  We will be serving Pizza Casserole and are in need of spaghetti sauce, long spaghetti, canned green beans, cash donations and as always helping hands.

 

Prayer and Worship MINISTRY - On MONDAY JAN. 29, from 6:30-8 p.m. we will hold a meeting of all those who are currently serving OR WOULD LIKE TO SERVE as CO-ORDINATORS of  sub-ministries within  proposed renewal plans for the Prayer and Worship Ministry.  Several opportunities to serve the Prayer and Worship related needs of the parish community exist at this point including areas like CHURCH ENVIRONMENT (seasonal decoration, care of altar linen), PURCHASER of liturgical supplies (wine, hosts etc.), SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION, SEASONAL PRAYER AND  FORMATION PROGRAM PLANNING (e.g. Lent).  The agenda will include the discussion of a proposal for re-visioning and renewing prayer and worship ministries in the Parish. Additional agenda items may be submitted to the Parish Office or e-mailed to me at wwchura@yahoo.com.  ALL INTERESTED PARISHIONERS ARE INVITED.

walt chura, s.f.o. Parish Council V.P. for Prayer, Worship and Adult Faith Formation.

 

ALL MINISTERS OF THE WORD (LECTORS, COMMENTATORS, CATECHISTS) must pick up a copy of Workbook for Lectors and Gospel Readers, purchased for you by the parish, from the table in the rear of the church after Masses or from the Parish Office during regular hours.  The workbook includes the designation and date for each Sunday's readings in Cycle C, and helps for meaningful proclamation of the Word of God, like pronunciations and short explanations of the context and meaning of the Sunday readings. 

 

LENTEN NEWSLETTER – Please have all submissions for the Lenten Newsletter to Eileen in the Parish Center no later than February 4th.

SCHOOL OF RELIGION –Classes are scheduled for Jan. 21st, 28th and Feb. 4th & 11th.  No Classes Feb. 18th & 25th (Winter Recess).   In case of inclement weather, please tune in to your local radio or TV station to see if class has been cancelled.  We are listed as “St. John the Baptist, Schenectady.”

 

SICM and Sacred Heart/St. Columba - is having their annual fund drive, SOUPER BOWL SUNDAY.   Donations may be placed in the cans near the front entrance of the church.  100% of monies collected go to Schdy. County’s needy.                                                                         

 

FRIENDSHIP CIRCLE - is organizing a group trip to see Menopause the musical at the Capital Rep. Theater.  A number of Sunday matinee dates during the months of June and July are available.  We need at least 10 people to qualify for a group rate of $41.00 center seat or $36.00 side seat.   I f you are interested in attending please contact Lynn Lucas (372-7798) by Jan. 21st as dates are selling out quickly.

 

PARISH OFFICE – I will be out of the office January 23rd, 24th & 25th, returning on Monday January 29th.  Please submit items for the bulletin as usual. Thank you, Eileen Mazur

 

12th Annual Thomas Merton Birthday Party  - will be held at the historic Orchard Tavern, 68 North Manning Blvd., Albany, NY on Sunday January 28 from 4-6 p.m..  Sponsored by the Thomas Merton Society of the Capital Region, the commemoration will include readings from Merton’s works and a short presentation on and discussion of “Merton and Friendship.”   Participants may order from the tavern menu.  Dues of $5-10 will be collected from those who wish to join the Merton Society. Reservations are appreciated.  Contact:  Walt Chura, S.F.O. at wwchura@yahoo.com or call 518-456-3201.

 

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land  - Fr John Medwid, pastor of St. Anthony’s Church in Schenectady and Christopher Cross, KHS are planning a 10 day Franciscan led pilgrimage to the Holy Land  March 18 – 28th, 2007.  The total price for this trip is $2,190. per person. This includes round-trip air from JFK, hotel, breakfast, lunch and dinners daily and all entrance fees. Visit all the holy sites and celebrate Mass daily as we visit Jerusalem, Nazareth, Bethlehem,  Sea of Galilee, Jordan River, Cana, Mt. Tabor and much more.   Call Christopher Cross at 888-727-5881 for a registration form and/or visit the web site:    www.catholicholyland.com  for a detailed itinerary and/or a registration form.

 

MEETING DATES

MONDAY January 29th Prayer & Worship Ministry 6:30PM -8PM in the Parish Center

MONDAY February 12th  Parish Council 6:45PM in the Parish Center

 

OFFERTORY COLLECTION:  The offertory collection for the weekend of 1/14/07was $903.00.    Needed to meet weekly expenses is $2,000.00. Giving out of your abundance is an act of thanksgiving, but giving out of your need is an act of faith.

    

                           

 

St. John the Baptist Catholic Church

Schenectady’s Historic Church   

Over 175 Years of Worship and Service

 

 

Rev. Michael T. Schmitt – Sacramental Minister

 Administrative Assistant –Eileen Mazur

Parish Office Hours 8:30AM-2:30PM Monday through Thursday 374-9148 Closed Friday

Parish Center Email: sjb@albany.net Web Site:  www.albany.net/~sjb/

Saturday Mass taped for Channel 16 – Shown: Sunday 2 PM & Monday 2 PM

                        January 21, 2007

St. John the Baptist Mission Statement

Dedicated to Celebrating Christ’s Love in

Worship, Works of Charity and Fellowship

Masses: Saturday 4:30 PM and Sunday 10:00 AM   Thursday 12:15 PM Novena to the Miraculous Medal

Sacrament of Reconciliation: by Appointment

Sacrament of Anointing: by Appointment
 
 

 

 

 

 

 


CARNIVAL!

 

CARNIVAL!  It doesn't sound like it has anything to do with the liturgical year, but in fact it is an old designation for the time between Epiphany and Ash Wednesday.  The word comes from the Latin for "farewell to the flesh" or "putting aside the meat."  The idea, which lives on in a rather contorted way in Mardi Gras celebrations, was to eat well while you could, to put on some festive winter "insulation" during the remainder of winter before the fasting days of Lent.  While the American Church calls it "Ordinary Time," much of the world still calls this liturgical season Epiphanytide (i.e. time after Epiphany).  So lift up your voices and shout with joy!  "This is no ordinary stretch of Ordinary Time: The liturgy in winter Ordinary Time is filled with gladsome light. Notice how it continues to echo the Epiphany with its images of the revelation of Jesus’ identity, the ingathering of the nations, the summoning of disciples." (Pastoral Patterns). Let this be our cause for cheer during these dark days.  

walt chura, s.f.o.