John Stack Ministries Announcements & Reminders – Page 114 – Stay connected with our Catholic community through weekly Mass announcements and recaps, fostering faith and fellowship in every gathering.

Homilies

Sunday Homily January 22, 2017, 3rd Ordinary Time
ByRosemary January 22, 2017

Readings:

Isaiah 8, 23 – 9, 3,   The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Psalm 27,  The Lord is my light and my salvation.

1 Corinthians 1, 01-13, 17, I urge you that there be no divisions among you.

Matthew 4, 12-23, Come after me and I will make you fishers of others.

Welcome in, Everybody!

Isaiah reminders, again—

Author: This is Isaiah #1, the composer of chapters 1-39. Even though Isaiah #1 lives before the Babylonian Captivity, he still sees that a great, bright day will come to the Jewish people, despite Babylon.

Date:  Ca. 555 before Christ, the composition. The Jewish people of Jerusalem are about to be defeated and carried off into slavery.

Welcome in from me, too," sez Genevieve.

Subject: A great day will come for you Jews. A special leader will be born. You will be a beacon to others, glorious, and a light to nations everywhere. You might easily recognize parts of this reading. From where? The Nativity readings and Handel's Messiah, a favorite of mine.

This is the last week we will have these Isaiah readings which I love. I will miss them. Until next Advent.

Welcome to you, Jean, and especially to you, Marge, all the way here from Vermont.

The people who have lived in darkness have seen a great light

I would like to talk again this morning on the same theme we touched upon last week, being a light. I have a story, some of which you might have heard. Here we go.

When I was in the 6^th grade at Christ the King, I joined the Boy Scouts in the Spring. Because my birthday comes in late January, I suddenly became eligible. So I start going to weekly meetings in the evening.

There is a rumor around here that somebody is 77 and it looks like a party, for sure.

I was kind of interested in camping out, but nothing was scheduled that Spring. Turns out that the first outing was to a Scout camp at Lake Texoma. For a whole week. Now I had never been away from home and Texoma seemed like another country. Certainly the road there was not like today’s Central Expressway. It was more like taking Tulip Lane to Texoma.

About 3-4 of my classmates had joined up because they became old enough. So, off we went.

Says Donna, "Happy Birthday to whomever that old geezer is."

It was not just my classmates on this trip, but also 7^th & 8^th grade guys. We get there and, probably because I was bigger than my classmates, I was informed quietly that I was going to be initiated into the Scout troop in a special way.

My self confidence in 6^th grade was pretty weak, so the threats of these 8^th grade boys scared the pooh out of me. So, what did I do? I faked being sick and was back home in Dallas Monday afternoon.

Yippee, I love birthday parties!

Success, Yes? Nope, I was ashamed, humiliated, and my self confidence totally vanished.

At this point two lights came into my life. First, my dad seemed to intuit that I needed extra care. Secondly, a new coach, teacher, and Scout Master was hired by Christ the King. This guy, Frank Hart, was especially non-judgmental and positive.

"So when does the party start?, says Harper.

Slowly during the year and being coached and encouraged by Frank, I got enough self-confidence to go to the next summer’s Scout camp at Texoma, not for the whole week, but from about Tuesday night on.

Why Tuesday night? My dad had volunteered to be an adult extra for Frank at the camp and I went with my dad. I can still remember walking into the camp that Tuesday evening. It was dark, Coleman lanterns were on, and Frank and my classmates all seemed delighted to see me.

Harper, Just this music alone is a party, and it is every week.

Frank is still alive. He lives in a retirement house on the corner of Hillcrest and Northhaven. He is mostly in bed all the time and may not even recognize me when I visit him each Friday after Romeos.

How did he help me? He just seemed to appreciate me as I was. He was a light of acceptance. I felt accepted and that acceptance helped me build self-confidence.

And the Offertory Team, Judy and Karen, John and Dick.

My dad helped me. Frank was a special light in my life.

Who is a light in your life?

For whom are you a light?

Read More Sunday Homily January 22, 2017, 3rd Ordinary Time
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary January 22, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week, Next week, replaced by Jackie & Rick's vow renewal.

Geri reading from The Great Isaiah I.

Our Special Thanks
- For the Readings: Geri & Mike
- For The Team: Kevin & Georgie & Buddy
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan
- For the Pictures: Rick & Beth & Mike & Connie
- For the coffee and extras: Mike & Jackie & Everybody
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ray & David & Shonda & Bethany
- For all who helped with Communion
Mike reading from 1 Corinthians.

Birthdays: Kevin (20, Tuesday), Sienna (7, Monday), Chloe (11, Tuesday), The Old Geezer (77, Thursday), Sir Charlie (Saturday), Becky Good (last Wednesday).

Anniversaries:

Ray & Claire (46^th, Monday)

Stay awake, Buddy, party time is coming.

Please Remember these special people:

For Carol's recuperation; For Tom Good; For Dee; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Jan’s mom; For Grace's mom and brother in Alberta ; For Cliff & Jean; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn; John Simari’s friend, Ron; For Anthony; For Frank & Mary's niece, Lisa, with cancer; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Jackie Urbanzyk's continued recovery;

Memorial for Nina's brother, Aaron, St. Paul's Richardson, Saturday.

For Geri's friend, Elsa Billman, 88, whose house burned; For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 90; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; The Quinn’s granddaughter, Mikayla;   For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; Frank’s & Mary's niece, Lisa, with brain cancer, Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; Diane McClurg's mom in Fort Dodge; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Happy Birthday, Becky.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents & daughter of her best friend, Mekala; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's dad & niece & Annie & Kyler & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen & her Margaret, Jim, & Christopher; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President.

Happy Birthday, Sir Charlie. You would not be spoofing me, would you, just to get a cupcake?

Your Finances, January 22, 2017

Expenses: $1585.00

Outreach: $ 770.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

Happy 16th Anniversary, Jackie & Rick, and thanks for renewing your wedding vows with our community.

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

Have a Good Week, Folks, and welcome back next Sunday.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

      Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.

      Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.

Peace, Everybody.
Read More Announcements
Reminders

Reminder for Sunday, January 22, 2017, 3rd Ordinary Time
ByRosemary January 18, 2017
"Welcome in, Everybody," says Brandon.

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack.

Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

Special Event this Sunday: The Old Geezer invites you to his Birthday Party and after Mass covered dish brunch. Welcome.

It doesn't get better than this, Shonda, Bethany (yeah!, she's back!), Ray, and David.

Readings:

Isaiah 8, 23 – 9, 3,   The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.

Psalm 27,  The Lord is my light and my salvation.

1 Corinthians 1, 01-13, 17, I urge you that there be no divisions among you.

Matthew 4, 12-23, Come after me and I will make you fishers of others.

Healing for Brent.

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, January 20, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), February, TBA

Healing for Michael.

What is going on in Our Catholic World
1. Nothing special this week.
Communion team ready.

Thanks, John Simari, for this note. Could this not be the welcome from our community? (With the exception, of course, of Sir Charlie!)

True?

Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.

Karl, age 5

"May I come in, too," says Aviana. Unfortunately not.

Special notice from our bar tender:

The coffee bar will be open before mass

for those who arrive early…

( closes promptly at 0930 until after the service :-)

-mike

Watch out, Mary. Watch out, Judy. Here comes Cathy.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

You may be The Best Coffee Bar Man, Mike, but your taste in teams is questionable, even though they beat our Cowboys.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

Peace, Everybody.
Read More Reminder for Sunday, January 22, 2017, 3rd Ordinary Time
Uncategorized

Sunday Homily, January 15, 2017, 2nd Ordinary Time, A
ByRosemary January 15, 2017

Readings:

Isaiah 49, 3, 5 &6,  I will make you a light to the nations.

Psalm 40,  Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.

1 Corinthians 1, 1- 3, Grace to you and peace.

John 1, 29-34, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him.

Hi, Everybody, Welcome in.

Isaiah reminders—

Author: This is Isaiah #2, the composer of chapters 40-55.

Date: Ca. 555 before Christ. The Jewish people of Jerusalem are in the Babylonian Captivity.

Today’s Message: Hope and promise of a better time with emphasis on 1. being a Servant of the Lord, and 2. being a Light to the Nations.

"Come on in, Folks," sez Zoe.

A Light to the Nations

So, Rosemary says to me, “Hey, we are getting tired of hearing you talk about the Jewish Community Center. I was running past her my ideas about a homily for this morning. Therefore, I request your tolerance. One more time.

I went to this Center initially just to work out a bit, and especially to see how I liked spin classes.   Four houses down from our house lives a youngish Jewish couple who have two kids now in college and a white dog, named Patty. Guess with whom Aviana likes to visit.

The excellent Candle Man of The Week, Ben.

The couple, Bud and Barbra, knew I did a lot of biking and kept encouraging me to visit the J, which is 10 minutes from our house. When I discovered I could get in free with my United Health card, Silver Sneakers, I started going.

For the first six months I found the exercise good but there was little camaraderie among the riders. People came and went without as much as a word. The next six months I began to learn names and started greeting everyone and talking. Today there is a lot of camaraderie.

What a treat, Folks, Buddy is still awake.

So it happened one morning while walking to the room where the bikes are that I began to talk with a guy I knew and liked named Mike, a guy in his early 50’s, very personable, smiling all the time, and Jewish.

I had been reading some fictional works on the Holocaust. So I feel comfortable enough to ask Mike about himself. “Where is your family from, Mike?” “From Poland,” he responds. “Wow,” I think, “the Holocaust was horrible in Poland. Like Auschwitz is near Warsaw and Warsaw was the scene of the Warsaw Uprising.”

I see you Ben, and I cannot say that a little mouse did not swipe your cupcake last week. Be nice to me and we'll see what might happen. Even Carol is watching you from behind you..

So I ask, “Mike, how was your family effected by the Holocaust?” “We lost over 80 members of our extended family.” I cannot believe what I am hearing. I am struck dumb. I am choked up. I feel like I am walking on holy ground, next to a Jewish saint. A bright light.

There is also a little lady named Haya in our group. I found out her birthday, got the class to sing to her one morning, and gave her one of those little Belvita cookie packages. I asked the lady who rides next to me how old she though Haya is. She says in her 80’s. So I ask her.

We are exactly the same age, 76.

Offertory team: Sir Charlie (who released him from time out!) & Jan, Bernadette & Gil.

I am stunned and really curious. How different was her life than mine? She speaks with an obvious European accent. So I invite her to lunch with me and Rosemary. I am betting that her first 18 years were a lot different than mine spent growing up in University Park .

We go to the Corner Bakery at Preston-Forest. She says she was born in a small Polish town in 1940, the year after the Nazis had invaded and occupied Poland. Her father and his two brothers had a business. Her father, however, must have had a premonition about how bad it might get.

Here they come, Folks, let's start the celebration, Olivia and Shonda.

He took the family first to the Russian zone of Poland, and then managed to escape to Marseilles, France, on the Mediterranean. From there they went to Israel when it was still a British holding. Finally, they escaped to New York, where she grew up. Her two uncles and all the extended family disappeared.

Again I am stunned and humbled to be in the presence of this person.

Our Best Man, Cowboy Cole.

I think all of us here and certainly myself, we hope to be light to others, like Isaiah promises. Often it is the light of others that touches me.   Mike and Haya humble me, sensitize me, and focus a whole new light on my own life, how blessed I am and have been.

Who is a light for you?

And for whom are you a light?

Cowboy Cole, Take these Pagans out into the wilderness from whence they come and leave them. No more love for you two.

Read More Sunday Homily, January 15, 2017, 2nd Ordinary Time, A
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary January 15, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week

O Holy One,

Abide with us

In this hour,

In our rest,

In all the time that is ours

    in the year to come.

Let your blessing rest

Upon us, within us, around us

    in this moment and in

    all the moments to come.

In your name we pray.

A Blessing by Ken Phillips

Rob reading from The Great Prophet Isaiah (II this week)

Our Special Thanks
- For the Readings: Beth & Rob
- For The Team: Georgie & Buddy
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan
- For the Pictures: Rick & Beth & Mike
- For the coffee and extras: Mike & Jackie & Bern & Ray
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ray & David & Shonda & Bethany
- For all who helped with Communion
Beth reading from 1 Corinthians.

Birthdays: Cheryl (last week), Doug Kite (62, Monday), The Gerwer Kids (9, Tuesday), Becky Good (Wednesday).

Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.

Please Remember these special people:

For Carol's recuperation; For Tom Good; For Dee; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Jan’s mom; For Grace's mom and brother in Alberta ; For Cliff & Jean; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn; John Simari’s friend, Ron; For Anthony; For Frank & Mary's niece, Lisa, with cancer; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Jackie Urbanzyk's continued recovery;

Happy 14th Birthday, Ben. I remember when you were 1.

For Geri's friend, Elsa Billman, 88, whose house burned; For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 90; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; The Quinn’s granddaughter, Mikayla;   For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; Frank’s & Mary's niece, Lisa, with brain cancer, Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; Diane McClurg's mom in Fort Dodge; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

Happy Birthday a week late, Dear Cheryl.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents & daughter of her best friend, Mekala; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's dad & niece & Annie & Kyler & Kaitlen; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen & her Margaret, Jim, & Christopher; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President that he have great success and someday hold his grandchildren in his lap.

Ben, you make a super Candle Lighter of the Week.



Your Finances, January 15, 2017

Expenses: $890.00

Outreach: $400.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

A good day to be inside. Anybody already tired of winter?

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

Our Father.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

      Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.

      Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.

"See you next week, Everybody," sez Leo.
Read More Announcements
Reminders

Reminder for Sunday, January 15, 2017, 2nd Ordinary Time, C
ByRosemary January 11, 2017
Welcome in, Everybody.

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack.

Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

I think I see, I'm sure I see, a little mouse at the edge of the cookie table.

Readings:

Isaiah 49, 3, 5 &6,  I will make you a light to the nations.

Psalm 40,  Here I am, Lord, I come to do your will.

1 Corinthians 1, 1- 3, Grace to you and peace.

John 1, 29-34, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him.

The Offertory Folks, Frank & Mary, Warren & Barb.

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, January 6, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), February, TBA

The Communion team, Lynda, Geri, Tom (red sweater, hidden), Jan, and Patricia.

What is going on in Our Catholic World
1. Pros & Cons of married priesthood, Crux, January 5, 1300 words, Download MARRIED PRIESTS 1-12-17
Would you trust your dear little girl to a hat like that?

True?

The supreme quality for leadership is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, a football field, in an army, or in an office.

Dwight D. Eisenhower

Watch out, Tori, that man is going to distract you and then swipe your cookies.

Patricia, who swiped all the cookies??

Special notice from our bar tender:

The coffee bar will be open before mass

for those who arrive early…

( closes promptly at 0930 until after the service :-)

-mike

A Meeting of The Board, Bill, Rob, Mike, & Beth.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

Life Blessing for all kids.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

Peace this week from Judy, Mary, and Cindy.

And, in fact, Peace this week from the whole Community.
Read More Reminder for Sunday, January 15, 2017, 2nd Ordinary Time, C
Homilies

Sunday Homily, January 8, 2017, Epiphany
ByRosemary January 8, 2017

Readings:

Isaiah 60, 1-6,  Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem.

Psalm 72,  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Ephesians 3, 2 & 3, 5 & 6, The Gentiles are coheirs.

Matthew 2, 1-12, The visit of the Magi to Bethlehem.

Welcome in Everybody.

Isaiah observations & reminders:

Who. This is Isaiah III, the third of three.

Time. The Jewish people have been released from slavery in Babylon and are back in a devastated Jerusalem. Around 555 before Christ.

Message: consolation and encouragement. The splendor of Jerusalem will shine again.

"And from me, too," says Leo, "Welcome in, Folks".

The Epiphany, a Cornucopia of Symbols:

2 observations–

Where to begin, folks. There is so much symbolism in this liturgy, in Matthew, for sure, and in the combination of Matthew with Isaiah and Psalm 72. Matthew carefully crafted this story to appeal to both his fellow Jews and the Gentile population. I'll touch 2 points, each with 3 subdivisions..

Hi, Folks.

1. The Wise Men have a double & triple significance because they are

a. Gentiles

b. They come from the east, considered the source of wisdom in the world of that time. Where does the sun rise? Where do stars rise? A new son has been born and like the sun in the east or a star he will bring new light.

c. They are searchers & symbolize every man’s search for meaning in life. Remember Matthew speaks to two audiences, his fellow Israelites, whom he is chastising for not searching, and the Gentiles.

A future musician with her daddy.

2. The 3 gifts.

a. Gold is given because it signifies royalty.

b. Frankincense, or incense, signifies divinity.

c. Myrra signifies medicine. Myrra is for the human. It comes from a bush like tree that has a yellow, sticky sap on its bark.  The sap was good for skin infections and acne, asthma, colds, and flu. It is found in Saudi Arabia & Somalia.

Our Candle Lighter of the Week, Buddy.

A post script. People in Europe used to write an inscription over their doors, e.g. 20+C+M+B+17. The numbers are our year. The letters are Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, supposedly the kings' names. Christians made it say, “Christ & you 3 kings bless our house or Maison the year listed."

Who is that under that beautiful, white hat?

Another post script. In New Orleans Epiphany starts Carnival season, which leads up to Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday before Ash Wednesday. The parades start, folks. Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler.

Sources: Reginal Fuller, St. Louis U. Liturgy; Biblical & Theological Resources, the Voice Institute, on line; Wikipedia; and other sources.

Hi, Harper, so nice to see you.

An Epiphany Story

Rosemary & I once went to the exposition of some paintings of about six or eight artists. Among the artists and the reason we were there was my childhood buddy, Ed Lamberty. He was presenting some of his works.

As we were wandering around we ran into another couple who are old friends. We ask what brought them to this exposition. They pointed across the room to a middle aged, middle class, blondish woman who was standing by some of her works.

Some of the people who attended Frank Reyes' Memorial, Saturday evening, The Resource Center in Dallas near Love Field.

Here is the story the wife told me.

The couple we know are both academics on the university level. Some years ago the wife had been teaching and came to know one of her students. The student was a mother with a son about 8 years old. At some point in time the father had abandoned them and left them with nothing. They were living in the mother’s car.

The Beautiful women of our Community.

My friend says to me that this so shocked her and she thought this cannot continue. An Epiphany moment. She described the situation to her husband and two sons who were about 10 & 12. Guess what they did.

They invited the mother & son to live with them until they got on their feet. The two sons moved into one bedroom and the mother & her son took the other. Here they lived for almost a year until the husband found the woman a job.

And more of the beautiful Juliettes.

The woman now is successful and is developing as an artist, selling her works for big sums. The son graduated from Jesuit, graduated from college, and now is married with a couple of his own kids.

Obvious from the fact that they were at the art exposition, my friends are still quite close with the mother & her son.

And talking about beauty, Wow! Does it get any better than The Romeos??

I would propose that this is what epiphany is, a light shines on a presence, like Mike talked about last week. The presence is a challenge and, perhaps, involves care for others. The presence may be the example of another person.

Who is an epiphany for you?

For whom are you an epiphany?

Read More Sunday Homily, January 8, 2017, Epiphany
Announcements

Announcements
ByRosemary January 8, 2017
Rosemary's Blessing of The Week

When the decorations of Christmas have been packed away
then the work of Christmas begins:

Lord, help us

to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
and to make a little music with the heart…

Adapted from Work of Christmas Begins by Howard Thurman

Kerry reading from The Great Prophet Isaiah (Isaiah III this selection).

Our Special Thanks
- For the Readings: Kerry & Mary
- For The Team: Kevin & Georgie & Buddy
- For the Communion Bread: Alison
- For the Special Communion Cups: Jan
- For the Pictures: Rick & Connie & Beth & Mike
- For the coffee and extras: Mike & Jackie & Kim & Ray
- For the altar & sound: Jackie & Hue
- For the Music: Ray & David & Shonda
- For all who helped with Communion
Mary reading from Ephesians.

Birthdays:   Meredith (last Monday), Tom Fleming (58 last Thursday), Jan (Saturday), Ben Kern (14, Friday)

Anniversaries

Jackie & Rick (16th, Friday)

Rosemary reading her Blessing of The Week.

Please Remember these special people:

For Carol's recuperation from her operation; For Frank's family & friends;   For Tom Good; For Dee; For John Schanot's continued recuperation; For Nadia's recuperation; For a young man who is suffering from depression; For Claire's mom; For Jan’s mom; For Grace's mom and brother in Alberta ; For Cliff & Jean; For Laura's sister Claudia; For Dawn; John Simari’s friend, Ron; For Anthony; For a number of David McKeon's family who are having a rough time with health issues; For Frank & Mary's niece, Lisa, with cancer; For John & Jean's son John Louis; For our good friend Kay in Ontario; For Jackie Urbanzyk's continued recovery;

Happy 58th, Tom, and to help you keep in shape, instead of a cupcake, a Belvita.

For Geri's friend, Elsa Billman, 88, whose house burned; For Rosemary's sister, Patty and her husband, Lou; For Cathy's uncle, Jim Wright at 90; For Connie's nephew, Fred; For Mary Jane Stevenson's son Philip, 34, sick & don't know why; The Quinn’s granddaughter, Mikayla;   For Maureen’s daughter, Kathleen, with cancer; For Jackie's friend, Barbara, plus Angela; For Sr. Patricia Otillio, a nun I worked with for years in Grand Coteau; John Cade's mother in law, Kalliopi Piskiouli; Frank’s & Mary's niece, Lisa, with brain cancer, Franks brother with advanced Parkinsons; Diane McClurg's mom in Fort Dodge; For Steve Barrett, Rose, & Katie;

And Happy Birthday to you, too, Jan. Don't let that Sir Charlie swipe your cupcake.

Dick Thompson's daughter, Teri Jill, and Judy's aging parents & daughter of her best friend, Mekala; Barb & Warren's grandbabies, Leighton Elizabeth and Warren Phillip and Ethan Michel, & their friend Chris, plus Barb's dad & niece & Annie & Kyler; Tom and Teresa Quinn's niece, Chawna, with cancer, plus Neva Flynn, Angel, and Diane Kreeitzer; Connie Doherty's mom and her sister, plus Kevin's cousin, Peter; for Mary Ellen & her Margaret, Jim, & Christopher; for our friends, sons, and daughters in the military, including Ryan McClurg and Chebino; cure for autism from Laura Chollick; for our President that he have great success and someday hold his grandchildren in his lap.

And to you, Rick and Jackie, happy 16th Anniversary.

Your Finances, January 8, 2017

Expenses: $930.00

Outreach: $280.00

Thanks for your Generosity, Everybody.

$2,000.00 donated to Soul's Harbor.

Happy Birthday to you, Meredith, and to you, Brent, I hope this check for $2,000 helps with the marvelous work you do as director of Souls Harbor. You both are an inspiration to me and to the community.

Have a Great Week, J.S

(214-783-0443)

No way, Buddy, can you be bored, what with such a fascinating Epiphany homily and all the fun things going on.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

      Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for & challenges spiritual & total growth.

      Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged & make the world we live in a better place to live.

From Mary and Genevieve, "Have a great week, Folks, peace."
Read More Announcements
Reminders

Reminder for Sunday, January 8, 2017, Epiphany
ByRosemary January 4, 2017
Hey, who is that making off with our microphone?

Welcome: Catholic Mass with coffee & juice, and pastries, some bought, some home-made.

Time: 9:30; Celebrate with the Community & Stack.

Place: Sigler Elementary, 1400 Janwood Drive, Plano, TX 75075

"May I have one of those cookies, please, Mary Ellen?" Actually, a non-verbal, but who can resist!

Readings:

Isaiah 60, 1-6,  Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem.

Psalm 72,  Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.

Ephesians 3, 2 & 3, 5 & 6, The Gentiles are coheirs.

Matthew 2, 1-12, The visit of the Magi to Bethlehem.

Hue doing his specialty, setting up the sound system. Thanks, Hue, for your non-stop, weekly help for the whole of our 13 years of celebrating together.

Community Activities:

ROMEO MEET: Friday, January 6, Jason's Deli, Collin Creek Mall, west side of Central, 1:00. Welcome all wakos, you will fit right in.

Are you people crazy?! This is 9:30, New Years Day, and all of you are up.

JULIET LUNCHEON, (aka.,just us ladies into eating together), Jamuary,

Happy New Year, JULIET friends,

Please join us as we ring in 2017,
this Fri. Jan. 6th at 12:30pm, for a delightful luncheon at the
Chocolate Angel Cafe & Tea Room, located

inside the High Street Antique Mall, north bound access road
of 75/Central just north of Plano Parkway
behind the Olive Garden Restaurant.
Please RSVP by email to Marilyn Ackerman by Thursday morning 1/5.

Good New Year's Morning to the O'Donnells, Aiden, John, and Jean

What is going on in Our Catholic World
1. Married priests?, National Catholic Reporter, December 16, 1090 words, Download MAYBE MARRIED PRIESTS 1-5-17
Yes, we know these people are crazy, up celebrating the New Year and now up at 9:30, John, Connie, and Tom.

True?

Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city.

George Burns, American comedian

Would you buy a used car from this character, even a new car?! Hold on to your bag, John, Sir Charlie's hand is getting suspiciously close.

Special notice from our barrister:

The coffee bar will be open before mass

for those who arrive early…

( closes promptly at 0930 until after the service :-)

-mike

footnote 1: The Matron of Blessings was heard saying that if the homily drags on too long, the coffee bar may open up for emergency service.

See you Sunday.

J.S., 214-783-0443

Think these people are having too much fun? The Old Geezer is probably talking.

JSM Mission-Faith Statement

Help create a Catholic Community that welcomes all God’s People, provides for and challenges spiritual and total growth.

Reaches out to help people who are disadvantaged and make the world we live in a better place to live.

Cindy and Ken, "Peace, Everyone, and Happy New Year."
Read More Reminder for Sunday, January 8, 2017, Epiphany
Uncategorized

Sunday Homily, January 1, 2017
ByRosemary January 1, 2017

Readings:

Numbers 67, 22-27,  The Lord bless you and keep you.

Psalm 67,  May God bless us in his mercy

Galatians 4, 4-7,  God sent the spirit of his son into our hearts.

Luke 2, 16-21, The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God.

Genevieve, are you the little girl in the red dress who stole the whole show at our Christmas Eve celebration??

First reading: God blesses people in countless ways. Today’s reading from the Book of Numbers is a priestly blessing given first to Moses by words that come to him from the Lord.

Second reading, Galatians 4:4-7: God sent his Son to redeem us so that we can become God’s adopted sons.

Brandon says, "Welcome in, Everybody. Yep, she is the girl in the red dress."

Gospel reading, Matthew 25: 31-46:

John gave me permission to switch gospel readings. What you are missing is a small part of a metaphorical story about Mary, an angel, shepherds and the baby Jesus.

You might recall 15 or 20 years ago that the Liturgy of the Word, for each of the A, B, and C cycles on New Year’s Day, had as its gospel Matthew’s parable of The Last Judgment. I imagine that its purpose was to encourage parishioners to incorporate some of its teaching into their New Year’s resolutions.

Alison, you know that the kids all love your home made communion bread and want more than one.

But I want you for a moment to think about where we live. When we go shopping, to work, or to a movie or local restaurant, to Whole Foods or Target, it isn’t really clear to us if there is, for example, an orphan or a widow in our midst who needs our help.

Simply put, we choose to support with taxes and contributions, governmental agencies and nonprofits, to provide food and drink to the hungry and thirsty and stranger twenty miles south of us. The fact is, whether we realize it or not, we distance ourselves from the needy.

Clear the way, Folks, here come Mike the Coffee Man.

The meaning to today’s parable is this: When we distance ourselves from the needy, we distance ourselves from God.

I placed myself in the following scenario: I was in one of the poorer parts of South Dallas, around seven in the evening, in front of a drug store where I had gone to pick up some cough medicine.

Aiden with his grandparents, John & Jean O'Donnell.

When I got out of the car and pushed the button to lock all of its doors, I immediately noticed, about two yards from the entrance of the store a stranger, at least to me. He was homeless, for he was wearing too many clothes, unshaven, had dark hair and complexion, and he was finishing the last drink of water that he would get from a small plastic bottle.

Learning: Big brother teaching little sister how to work a water fountain.

He was looking right at me, and I at him. As I approached him he addressed me in a language I did not know or understand. Searching his face I sought his eyes and noticed a bit of a smile as he ran his fingers through his hair. He reached to open the door for me. What should I do?

Mike ready to share his ideas in his homily.

In a split second I heard the question from the unrighteous in today’s parable, ‘When was it that we saw you a stranger and did not welcome you?’

Offertory, Cheryl, Carrie, & Paul.

Would I have responded with a joyful smile? Would I have embraced him with his perfume of sweat? Would I have kissed him on his forehead, taking hold of his arm to have him enter with me? Would I have asked the people in the store if anyone knew his language so that I could find out why he was there and what he needed? Would I have invited him to my home, offered him the opportunity to take a shower, laid out something for him to wear as I washed his clothes and prepared something for him to eat?

Brandon, our Candle Lighter of The Week.

Jesus, an itinerant preacher, had a dark complexion and nowhere to rest his head. Was he present to me here and now? The Lord in our parable was hungry, thirsty, a stranger longing for a visit.   Yes, every encounter we have with another is meant to be a holy encounter.

Our School gorilla (know any other school with a pet gorilla at the door to the cafeteria?) says he is happy to see us back in the cafeteria after being in the gym for Christmas Eve.

When we name the other person God, we name ourselves. We verify our name, the body of Christ in the world.

Read More Sunday Homily, January 1, 2017