A Word from Your Pastor January 6, 2013

Dear Parishioners:

Happy New Year (that is, New Calendar Year, since we started our New Liturgical Year in Advent)!  Blessings on this glorious Solemnity of the Epiphany.  This is the day that reminds us that Christmas is for the whole human race.  The Magi, the Wise Men from the East who followed the Star, adore the Child in the presence of His mother, at Bethlehem, and forever find themselves proclaimed in Scripture as the first among the nations to acknowledge Him as Lord and Savior.

The gifts of the Magi, Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh, serve to remind us that we owe Christ our first and best; that He is God in the flesh; and that He came to suffer, to die and to rise for our salvation.  As we contemplate the Mystery of His Revelation to the Nations, we are invited to renew our own Faith and to commit to share Him with our world today.

The Liturgy of Epiphany calls to mind three events: the Coming of the Magi, the Baptism of the Lord (which will be celebrated with its own Feast next Sunday), and the Wedding Feast of Cana.  Each of these Mysteries in the life of Jesus serves to express His Divinity cloaked in our human nature.  The Glory of the Lord is revealed in Creation through the lives of Believers and through all human beings who follow the light of their conscience.

As Pastor, I have to say that I was very proud of how many of you turned out for the Solemnity of Mary at the Masses we celebrated this past Monday evening and Tuesday morning.  I was especially struck to hear you all sing out with the Angels: “Glo-oooo-o-oooo-o-oooo-or-ia in excelsis Deo!”  I am sure, also, that our Heavenly Mother was delighted as we, the sons and daughters entrusted to her as Mother of the Church, came to complete the Octave of Christmas with her Feast.

Now, hold onto Christmas, even though the wider culture has already set it aside.  It is yours, by right, publicly until the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.  You can also make a strong case for holding onto it privately until the Solemnity of the Presentation of the Lord February 2^nd.  Whatever you do, live the Incarnation and let the world know that you have Faith in Jesus our Savior and Lord.

 

Year of Faith October 11, 2012 – November 24, 2013

We continue our journey through the Year of Faith.  As one way of observing this year, each week a small section of the Catechism of the Catholic Church is read before the start of Mass.  This is a small way of offering some food for growth in Faith throughout this year.

528 The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of Israel, Son of God and Savior of the world. The great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee.  (Matthew 2:1; cf. Liturgy of the Hours, Epiphany, Evening Prayer II, Antiphon at the Canticle of Mary)

In the magi, representatives of the neighboring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi’s coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations.  (Cf. Matthew 2:2; Numbers 24:17-19; Revelation 22:16.)

Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Savior of the world only by turning toward the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament.  (Cf. John 4:22; Matthew 2:4-6.) The Epiphany shows that “the full number of the nations” now takes its “place in the family of the patriarchs,” and acquires Israelitica dignitas - are made “worthy of the heritage of Israel.” (St. Leo the Great)

This Week in Our History:  January 6-13

Note: This project was started in February 2012; we will continue it until a full year of review is completed.

1963:   We are pleased to be in our own building this morning.  There will be some inconveniences for a time but they should disappear as the building nears completion.  We expect the church section of the building to be ready for the first Sunday of Lent, March 3^rd.

  Classrooms will become gradually available for Sunday morning instruction.  Next Sunday we will have two available.  Catechetical instructions will be at 11:00 and we would like the 2^nd grade, First Communion Class to come.  The second class will be made up of those in other grades who have not yet made their First Communion.  Parents of these children are asked to see that they are here.  Preparation for fist Communion is most important.

  Nursery and pre-school classes on Sunday mornings will not be held for a few weeks.  High School Catechetical Instructions will resume Monday evening, January 7^th, at 7:30 pm at the Rectory.  First grade instructions as usual on Saturday morning.

1964:   Parents with children in St. Andrew’s are asked to make payment of tuition to us.  $25.00 per child for the first two children in either St. Andrew’s or St. Timothy’s.  Bus fare, $20.00 per child for the first two children in either school.  Other fees are to be paid directly to St. Andrew’s; we are responsible for the tuition.

Free, Delicious Spaghetti Dinner – Sat. Jan. 18^th – sponsored by the St. Timothy Men’s Club.  6:30 pm – Parish Hall.  Sorry Girls – Men Only.  Prizes – Liquid Refreshments.

[Current Pastor’s Note (2013):  We learned from one of the original Men’s Club members during our Jubilee Preparations that this “Men Only” stipulation did not last long; the wives were not happy to be left out of it.  The reason for “Men Only” was not anything against the Ladies; it was for fear that they would run out of food and that the Raffle tickets sold would not cover the cost because each couple might only buy one….  This event is one of those from our earliest days that still continues in our annual Spaghetti Dinner, to which all are invited!]

1967:   Good News: Father Winkler saw his doctor this week and was told that he could return to St. Timothy’s about March 1.

1971:   We sincerely welcome the following new parishioners:  M/M Michael Anderson, M/M J. William Ashmun, M/M Michael Bonny, Mr. Robert Lux

1975:   CCD.  Again we really need your cooperation regarding consistent attendance.  Our entire staff is working hard to help meet the spiritual needs of your children and it’s more difficult to “build” when some of the foundation is missing.  This applies to your child as an individual and as a member of a Christian community.

1976:   Today is the feast of the Baptism of Christ, and at the noon Mass we shall baptize Mindy Marie Pond, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Timothy Pond.  Congratulations and a warm welcome.

1977:   A great big THANKS to Marty Gardner and all her crew who worked so hard, and successfully, to make the New Year’s Dance a good evening of fun.

1978:   From the Pastor’s Desk

Our parish council will meet Tuesday at 7:30 pm in the cafeteria.  The meeting will be devoted primarily to a discussion of the proposal to consolidate with St. Agatha's school and a vote on that proposal.  (We understand that their council will be voting at the same time.)  Let’s all of us pray earnestly that we will make the right and best decision.

  Should the consolidation proposal not be accepted, we will be faced with the options of closing grades, raising tuition…or raising an additional amount of $31,000 for the fiscal year 1978-79…I remind you that we are projecting to go at least $12,000 further in debt this fiscal year.

  I concur with Mr. Daniel Brent, of the Diocesan School Office, who wrote: “It is my judgment that, inconvenient and disruptive as it may be, the consolidation offers the best chance for keeping Catholic School education affordable in the parish and still making progress on the parish debt.”

1981:   May God grant eternal joy to Gus DiNovo.

Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Renick Hamilton on their 50^th wedding anniversary.

1983:   Remember in your prayers Muriel Reinhard, a member of St. Timothy, who was buried this past week.

1992:   Congratulations to Joyce Bellisari and Mike Scaglione who were married here last weekend, and to Philip Rasor and Anthony Francescon, who were baptized into the Church.

1994:    Rest in Peace.  Your prayers are requested for Jerry Schuster, Russell Finneran and Walter Holden, all members of the parish, who entered New Life during the Christmas and New Year weeks.

1995:   Please remember in your prayers Chris O’Gorman, who was buried this past week.

1997:   Please remember in your prayers, Paris Fracasso, who died and was buried this past week.

2004:   Our prayers and sympathy to the families of John F. Carlin and John Fracasso.  May they rest in peace.

2005:    Our prayers and sympathy to the family of Delta Tiberi.  May she rest in peace.

 

2009:   A Word from Your Pastor

We have made it through the Christmas Season!  With today’s Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, we bring to a close the Liturgical observance of the Season of the Incarnation….It is important for us to realize that what we celebrate at Christmas is always true: God is with us.

  Let me offer a word of Thanks to all for the many gifts and all the kindnesses you showed me during my first Christmas with you.  Thanks too to all who made the Liturgies and other celebrations of the Season so special.  May God bless you!