December 28, 2014

ST. MARY PARISH
1333 58th Street, Sacramento CA 95819
(916) 452-0296 • Fax (916) 452-3908
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm
www.stmaryparishsacramento.com
[email protected]
The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary,
and Joseph
December 28, 2014
My eyes have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared
in the sight of all the peoples.
— Luke 2:30-31
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
St. Mary Parish
prepares and sustains
Its members and guests
for a life and eternity
in the presence of God.
In accomplishing our mission,
we proclaim and celebrate
our salvation
through Jesus Christ
enlivened by the Holy Spirit,
nourish our sacramental life
especially in the Sunday celebration
of the Eucharist,
and demonstrate our faith
worshiping, educating, serving
and encouraging vocations
as modeled by Mother Mary.
MORE PARISH INFORMATION
MARRIAGE: Contact the Parish office at (916) 452-0296 6 months prior
to the wedding date. Marriage preparation classes are available.
INFANT BAPTISM: Contact the Parish Office. All baptisms must be
scheduled 3 months in advance. Parents and godparents must attend class.
ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Contact the Parish Office regarding sick,
elderly who are at home, hospitals or special care facilities.
MUSIC: For Music Ministry, call Ben Billeci (916) 383-6155
RCIA: Process for adults and children of catechetical age who are
interested in joining the Catholic Church and baptized Catholics wanting to
complete their initiation sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Please
call Shannon Blecha at (916) 452-0296 x20 or email at
[email protected].
CFF: Catholic youth are formed through the Parish Faith Formation
Program (CFF). Shannon Blecha (916) 452-0296 x20.
PARISH HALL RENTAL: Please call 6 months prior to make
reservations, contact Sandra Sanders (916) 452-0296 x24 or email
[email protected].
BULLETIN: Our church bulletin is prepared one week in advance. All
submissions are reviewed by the Pastor. Email requests to
[email protected] no later than Friday.
MASS SCHEDULE
Sunday 8:00, 9:30, 11:00 am, and 6:00 pm
Daily Mass: Monday - Saturday 8:00 am
Saturday 5:00 pm (Vigil Mass)
Holy Days: As announced in bulletin
CONFESSION : Satur day: 3:30 pm-4:30 pm or by appointment
PASTOR: Fr . J ames Nar ithookil, CMI
PAROCHIAL VICAR : Fr . J ossy Vattothu, CMI
DEACONS Deacon Luigi Del Gaudio, MSW
Deacon George W. Kriske
Business Manager: Tr acilyn Peter s
[email protected]
SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Patrick J. O’Neill M.A.
INFANT MARY CHAPEL Open Daily 6:30 am-5:00 pm
Solemn Adoration: First Fridays 8:30 am-6:00 pm
ST. MARY’S PARISH SCHOOL
1351 58th Street, Sacramento CA 95819
(916) 452-1100 • Fax (916) 453-2750 • www.saintmaryschool.com
FOLLOW OUR PARISH
WELCOME! Our war mest welcome to all who celebr ate with us, whether longtime r esidents or newly ar r ived in the par ish.
We thank God for you. If you are not registered, please fill out the form below and place in the collection basket or mail to the
church.
Name: __________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________
Address:___________________________________________________________________________
City: ___________________________________________________________ Zip: ______________
Email:_____________________________________________________________________________
 New Parishioner
 New Address
 New Phone Number
 Moving, remove from list
 Send Sunday Envelopes
 Electronic Tithing Information
From the Pastor
New Year Reflections
Anewyearisunfolding—likeablossomwithpetalscurledtightlyconcealingthebeautywithin.Lord,
letthisyearbe illedwiththethingsthataretrulygood—withthecomfortofwarmthinourrelationships,withthestrengthtohelpthosewhoneedourhelpandthehumilityandopennesstoaccepthelp
fromothers.Aswemakeourresolutionsfortheyearahead,letusgoforwardwithgreathopethatall
thingscanbepossible—withYourhelpandguidance."
Recipe for a Happy New Year.
Taketwelve ine,full-grownmonths;seethatthesearethoroughlyfreefromoldmemoriesofbitterness,cleansethemcompletelyfromeveryclingingpain;pickoffallspecksofpettinessandlittleness;in
short,seethatthesemonthsarefreedfromallthepast—havethemfreshandcleanaswhenthey irst
camefromthegreatstorehouseofTime.Cutthesemonthsintothirtyorthirty-oneequalparts.Donot
attempttomakeupthewholebatchatonetimebutprepareonedayatatime.Into each day put equal
parts of faith, patience, courage, work, hope, ϐidelity, liberality, kindness, rest(leavingthisoutis
likeleavingtheoiloutofthesaladdressing—don’tdoit),prayer, meditation, and one well-selected
resolution.Putinaboutoneteaspoonfulofgoodspirits,adashoffun,apinchoffolly,asprinklingofplay,andaheapingcupfulofgoodhumour.
MayGodmakeyouryearahappyone!
Notbyshieldingyoufromallsorrowsandpain,
Butbystrengtheningyoutobearit,asitcomes;
Notbymakingyourpatheasy,
Butbymakingyousturdytotravelanypath;
Notbytakinghardshipsfromyou,
Butbytakingfearfromyourheart;
Notbygrantingyouunbrokensunshine,
Butbykeepingyourfacebright,evenintheshadows;
Notbymakingyourlifealwayspleasant,
Butbyshowingyouwhenpeopleandtheircausesneedyoumost,
andbymakingyouanxioustobetheretohelp.
God’s love, peace, hope and joy to you for the year ahead.
Come, Holy Spirit,
SpiritoftheRisenChrist,bewithustodayandalways.
BeourLight,ourGuide,andourComforter.
BeourStrength,ourCourage,andourSancti ier.
MaythisNewYearbeatimeofdeepspiritualgrowthforus,
Atimeofwelcomingyourgracesandgifts,
Atimeforforgivingfreelyandunconditionally,
Atimeforgrowinginvirtueandgoodness.
Come, Holy Spirit,
Bewithustodayandalways.Amen.
Fr. James Narithookil, CMI
Pastor
_________________________________________________________________________________
TV MASS: NEW TIME [CHANNEL CALL LETTERS]
Heart of the Nation's TV Mass for the homebound will move to 6:30 a.m. on KSPX (ION) channel 29. When you or
someone you love cannot get to church because of illness, lack of transportation, or other struggles, the TV Mass offers
spiritual comfort and inspiration. For cable/satellite channels, check your TV listings for KSPX (ION). The Mass will continue to air at 7:00 a.m. on KBTV channel 8.6 (need antenna) and at 7:30 a.m. on Sacramento Faith TV. Video of the TV
Mass is also available online at www.HeartoftheNation.org.
HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION
JANUARY 1
SOLEMNITY OF MARY
Thursday, January 1, 2015, is a Holy Day of Obligation. There will be a Vigil Mass on Wednesday, December 31, 2014 at 6:30pm and two Masses on Thursday, January 1, 2015 at 8 a.m., and 12:15 p.m.
AARP Driver Safety Program
A driver safety program course is being conducted at
the Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger Funeral Home
5401 Folsom Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95819 January 26
and 27, 2015, Mon and Tues. from 9:00am to 1:00pm
The fee is a non-refundable $15.00 (for AARP members)
* or $20.00 (for non-AARP members) for each par ticipant. To register or if you have any questions please call
Jim Finnegan at (916) 804-9777.
Happy New Year!!!
The clergy and staff of St. Mary Parish wish you and
your families a very happy and healthy 2015.
Festival Co-chairs needed
Are you interested in becoming more involved with your
church community? We are looking for two additional
people to assist in chairing the annual parish festival for
2015. It may seem like a daunting task, but rest assured,
you will not be alone! Duties will include, attending a
few meetings leading up to festival day and most importantly assisting on festival weekend. If you are interested please contact Susie Jackson 916-416-3303 or [email protected], she can answer any questions you may
have and sign you up if you are interested.
Help Us to Help Others
The St Vincent de Paul Society-Sacramento Thrift Store
operates to broaden the Vincentian mission by providing
low-priced goods and services to our neighbors in need, so
they may live in dignity. We invite all parishioners to join
us in raising awareness of the Society by visiting our Thrift
Store located at: 2275 Watt Avenue, Sacramento, CA
95825 We serve not only our community but each other.
Whether you are shopping or donating you are giving.
2015 ACA Parish Advocate
Thank you to Miss Shannon Blecha who has agreed to act as
our Parish Advocate for the 2015 Annual Catholic Appeal.
St. Mary’s Mardi Gras
Crab Feed
Mark your calendar, January
10, 2015. This parish event is
at a special date this year due
to a conflict with Valentine’s
Day...but not to worry, it will
be back in February 2016. So
come out and shake hands with
Bayou Nik, taste Gator Joe's
down home cooking with help from his crew of critters,
and get your drink at Possum Pete's Watering Hole. We
will have a great raffle and music to dance to as well. The
menu includes Jumbo shrimp with Cajun cocktail sauce,
salad, cornbread with honey butter, chicken and sausage
gumbo served over rice, crab and peach cobbler. All this
for $45 per ticket. Tickets can be purchased by calling
Denise Franzoia (916) 457-5084 or the church office at 452
-0296. You can use cash, check, or credit card. If you
would like to volunteer for this event and earn your parish
hours then please contact Nikolaas Bos
at [email protected] ....we need servers, raffle ticket
sellers, getting donations for raffle prizes and putting baskets together. We also need two people to sell drink tickets
and as always some people willing to set up. We need a
volunteer chair to take the names of the volunteers and positions they're volunteering for. That about covers it for
now. See you soon, Nik Bos, Chair; Chris Holtzman, CoChair; Joe Rovito, Kitchen Chair; Pete Piccardo, Bar Chair
Parish Wish List…….
There are many projects around our parish buildings that
can be your gift to the St. Mary Community. Please pray
about it and contact the parish office and let us know if you
are able to help with your time, your talent, your treasure or
all three. Our wish list is as follows:
New Carpeting in the Rectory Dining Room
New Carpeting on the Rectory Stairs
New Carpeting on the 2nd Floor
New or Gently Used Furniture for the Rectory Parlor
Exterior LED lighting for Church/Hall
New Sound System—Giovanni Hall
Replace older components Church Sound System
Repair dry rot in St. Joseph’s Cupboard
Flooring in Hall
Additional Metal Folding Chairs for Hall
Repair sidewalk on M Street
New wooden gate to St. Joseph’s Garden
New Doors from Hall to Gym
New HVAC system for Church and Church Offices
New AC unit for Rectory
Repair/Replace Canopy posts on M Street
Remodel Janitorial Closet in Hall
New Roof for the Rectory patio
New Roof for the Church entry
Your Stewardship and contributions towards maintaining
your spiritual home are greatly appreciated.
Mass Intentions
Requested By
Saturday, December 27
8:00am Raymond Clemons +
Family
5:00pm Mary Andrade +
Daughter
Jacinta de Aguirre +
Alarcon Family
Sunday, December 28
8:00am Irene Manno +
Harry & Regina Viani
Bruna Guidotti +
Harry & Regina Viani
9:30am Mario Affinito +
Nancy Affinito
Julie Rogado
Family
11:00am Frank Manfredini +
Enes Manfredini
Dina & Albert Pieruccini +
Enes Manfredini
6:00pm For the People
Monday, December 29
8:00am Fr. Jossy Vattothu
Maria, Mary & Jo
Anna Ministry
Breda Seymour
Tuesday, December 30
8:00am Carol Suarez Klick +
Ginny Suarez Klein
Mary Morrissey
Breda Seymour
Wednesday, December 31
8:00am
6:30pm Rita Gruca +
Billie McCarty
8:00am Thursday, January 1
8:00am Maria Velo +
Nancy Horat
12:15pm Mario Affinito +
Nancy Affinito
Robert Zarick +
Joan & Family
Friday, January 2
8:00am Steve & Krissy Alvarez
Mom
Mary Velo +
Frank Philipps
Saturday, January 3
8:00am Mary Velo +
Frank Philipps
John Ciani +
Ciani Family
5:00pm Archie Bugatto +
Wife & Family
Bob Voss +
Cathie Carvalho
Sunday, January 4
8:00am Robert Antonietta Fontana+
Fontana Family
Mary Velo +
Mary Kassis
9:30am Mario Affinito +
Nancy Affinito
Vinicio Guerra +
Wife
11:00am Michaela Espejo +
Michael & Beverly Paparella
Mario Zeravica
Bilandzich Family
6:00pm For the People
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35
1 Jn 2:12-17; Ps 96:7-10; Lk 2:36-40
1 Jn 2:18-21; Ps 96:1-2, 11-13; Jn 1:1-18
Nm 6:22-27; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Gal 4:4-7;
Lk 2:16-21
1 Jn 2:22-28; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 1:19-28
1 Jn 2:29 — 3:6; Ps 98:1, 3cd-6; Jn 1:29-34
Is 60:1-6; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-13;
Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12
Pray For… Lilian Clifford, Gene Harding, Patricia Scanlan, Darlene Claflin, Mary Katherine Long, Donna Fisher, Tracy Fisher,
Carmen Quintana, Anne Horton, Rose Mary Clemons, Anna Krizl,
Patricia Schiele, Jim & Amelia Vic, Melinda Riley, Janet & Steven
Kwartler, Donna Kelley, Edward Kelley, Mary Halverson, Stefanie
Jumper, Brent Luna, Madison Smith, Robert Rizzo, Trisha BrightBernard, Joe Rohrer, Wendy Fisher, Richard Padden, Herb Louie,
Esther Latino, Candi Peters, Gary Sypnicki, Frank Roddy, France
Driscoll, Richard Kelley, Rene Larkin, Clarence Jefferson, Bernadine Vessels, Joetta Conners, Elvira Falzon, Cassandra and Gigi
Noble, Mary Velo, Andrea Kolstrup, Tony Costa, Matthew Herbert
and Niloofar Layeghi, Harriet Coster, Joan Hanrahan, Abbas Layeghi, Elizabeth Henry, Gary Clifford, Thomas Colby, Cecil Bennett, Linda Kaeser, Pat Nulk, Robin Dunton, Loren Chelini, Rebecca Jayne and Ada Ann Scott.
Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God
Thursday is a very special feast day for our parish
in particular. It is special because it is dedicated to our
patroness. One of my favorite titles for Mary is from the
Greek language: Theotokos. It means “God-bearer”. Try
that on for the next few days. Now let’s look at the
readings for this feast.
The second reading is Galatians 4:4-7. It is easy
to misunderstand St. Paul. That first sentence has five
clauses, which can get confusing if you don’t see the main
point: “God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under
the law, to ransom those under the law, so that we might
receive adoption as sons.” This is the meaning of the
solemnity and of all the Christmas season. Christ’s
coming through Mary transformed us from slaves to
children of God. We can now call God “Abba!” which is
better translated as “Daddy!” This passage is about what
God did for us through Christ.
I challenge you to read the Gospel: Luke 2:1621. Mary is reflecting on all that is happening in her
heart. It makes us ask: if God becoming human were not
a world-altering event, would it be worth the bother? God
comes for our sakes to change the world forever. That is
the meaning of all the amazement. That is how precious
we are to God! And Mary is central to this story. She is
the perfect disciple that we should emulate. From the
Annunciation onward, her “fiat” is her YES to God.
Unconditional! Let us follow in her footsteps by saying
YES to God! Happy Feast of the Solemnity of our
Mother, Mary.
If you are interested in knowing more about the
Catholic faith or want to finish your initiation Sacraments
(first eucharist & confirmation), contact me at (916) 4520296, ext. 20 or at [email protected]
for more information.
-Shannon Blecha
RCIA Adult and Teens Sessions
Catechumenate: Sundays 10:30 am, Marian Room
Dec. 28: Holy Family
Jan. 4: Epiphany—Jan. 11: Dismissal Only
Inquiry: Mondays, 7:00 pm, Holy Spouses Rm.
Dec. 29: NO SESSION
Jan. 5: Inside Church—Jan. 12: Outside Church
Children’s Inquiry:Mondays, 5:30pm, Holy Spouses
Dec. 29: NO SESSION
Jan. 5: Relationships—Jan. 12: Church Tour
Interested in joining the Catholic Church?
…or just learning more about it?
…or completing your initiation sacraments?
…or learning more about your faith?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults team invites
you to continue your journey of faith, beginning with
an exchange of information meeting with Shannon.
Call 452-0296, ext. 20 or e-mail to
[email protected].