SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday: The Baptism of the Lord; National Vocation Awareness Week
Thursday: St. Anthony
Friday: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins
Saturday: Blessed Virgin Mary; Orthodox Theophany (Epiphany)
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READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday: 1 Sm 1:1-8; Mk 1:14-20
Tuesday: 1 Sm 1:9-20; Mk 1:21-28
Wednesday: 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20; Mk 1:29-39
Thursday: 1 Sm 4:1-11; Mk 1:40-45
Friday: 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a; Mk 2:1-12
Saturday: 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1a; Mk 2:13-17
Sunday: Is 49:3, 5-6; Ps 40; 1 Cor 1:1-3; Jn 1:29- 34
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TODAY'S READINGS
First Reading -- Isaiah speaks of the Servant whom the LORD upholds; he shall bring forth justice to the nations
(Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7).
Psalm -- The Lord will bless his people with peace (Psalm 29).
Second Reading -- Jesus was anointed by God with the Holy Spirit; he went out healing and doing good
(Acts 10:34-38).
Gospel -- A voice comes from heaven proclaiming Jesus as the beloved Son, with whom God is well pleased (Matthew 3:13-17).
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GOD'S BELOVED
Only one week has passed since we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany. No longer are we focused on the images of the child Jesus surrounded by his parents and the magi at the manger in Bethlehem. Today, it's as if the Church has pushed the "fast forward" button in the life of Jesus. Today we celebrate his baptism in the Jordan. When the Lord Jesus rises from the waters of baptism, the heavens open and a voice announces, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased" (Matthew 3:17). This event sets the stage for the unfolding of Jesus Christ's life and work, which will become our focus for the rest of the year as we tune our ears to Saint Matthew's Gospel. As we prepare ourselves for this work, let us be reminded that we, too, were counted among God's beloved at the moment of our own baptism.
The Holy Rosary is considered a perfect prayer because within it is the awesome story of our salvation. With the Rosary in fact we meditate the mysteries of joy, of sorrow and the glory of Jesus and Mary. It's a simple prayer, humble so much like Mary. It's a prayer we can all say together with Her, the Mother of God. With the Hail Mary we invite Her to pray for us. Our Lady always grants our request.
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Recitation of the Holy Rosary
Saturday after 9AM Mass and Last Friday of each Month after 7AM Mass.
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Sacrificial giving nurtures the spirit of the giver and helps to build a better world.
Thank you for your support and generosity for last week's collection.
Last Sunday's Collection: $4,837.00
Feast of Holy Mary Mother of God: $549.00
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Congratulations to the following children who received the Sacrament of Reconciliation here this weekend. The community of Immaculate Conception Church prays for you as you continue your Journey of Faith.
Elisabetta Bracer
Ariana Bravo
Tara Brody
Owen Cocchio
Alexandria Colfax
Richard Dignardi
Justin Dunn
Daniel Faria
Hanna Flatt
Sean Gindhart
Sara Graham
Sarah Haggerty
Thomas Heath
Taylor Hendrickson
Tyler Holden
Chelsea Hourzy
Jacob Hubbard
Brianna Kimble
Gillian Klass
Drew Lagenfield
Antonio LaTorre
Carmella Limon
Justin Lindquist
Kelly Lukas
Margaret Lukas
Vincent Maguire
Cynthia Manning
Bagrielle Mascuch
Destiny Mathes
Gillian McDonald
Marissa McKinnon
Brianna Millier
Carson Morre
Elizabeth Morano
Ryan Nuzzo
Bethany Payne
Sarah Petrucci
Maggie Reid
Danielly Reilly
Morgan Rocks
Isabella Rodgiquez
Zachary Rosko
Anastasia Schroeder
Patricia Stecher
Madison Stires
Shayla Traverso
Philip Verso
Shannon Wabeke
Ethan Whiteford
Angelique Wygonowski
Madison Yodice
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Ministry to the homebound
We want all our parishioners to know that due to federal privacy guidelines, all hospitals and nursing homes are restricted as to which information may be given to local churches. All clergy, pastoral visitors and Eucharistic Ministers are aware of the privacy rights of all patients. If you or a family member are in any of our area hospitals, we ask that you or someone call the Rectory. In some cases, the hospital admission staff may ask if you wish your church to be notified; they can only do so with explicit permission. In the interim please let us know if you would like a home or nursing home visit. We are updating our census of those who are homebound; if a member of your family is temporarily or permanently homebound and would like to receive Communion and/or a visit, please contact Janice at the Rectory.
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CASA Volunteers
The Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) programs are recruiting volunteers to serve as advocates for abused/neglected children. Such volunteers help facilitate placement of children into a permanent home and represent the child's best interest in family court. CASA volunteers must be 21years of age or older and have a sincere desire to help abused/neglected children. To become a CASA volunteer, call: 973-579-0723
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Sussex County MOWs Volunteers
Your help is needed. Become a volunteer for Sussex County Meals on Wheels. By donating one hour a week of your time to help deliver meals in your community, you will enhance the wellbeing of a homebound senior citizen. For more information call 973-209-0123 and speak with the Volunteer Recruiter.
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Inclement Weather
Weekday Mass Cancellations
In case of inclement weather, please call the Rectory, 973-827-9575, to check on the possible cancellation of the 7:00 AM Weekday Mass.
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Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program—LIHEAP
LIHEAP provides grants to eligible households that pay for home heat directly or have it included in rent. Application period is from November 1 through March 31, eligible Food Stamp households are automatically enrolled.
Universal Service Fund—Applicants for LIHEAP are automatically screened for this program. Households that spend more than 3% of gross income on natural gas or electric are eligible to qualify. Call 1-888-454-4778.
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Blessing of Homes
It is an annual Christmas tradition for homes to be blessed by a priest during the month of January. Parishioners who would like to have Father Bogie bless their home, please call the rectory. In Exodus, the Israelites marked their doors so that the Lord would pass over their homes; but in this service, we mark our doors with chalk as a sign that we have invited God's presence and blessing into our homes.
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Immaculate Conception Regional School
Pancake Sunday
Sunday, January 27, 7:30-1:00 Church Lyceum
After each Mass—$5 per person
This fund raiser is hosted by the students of I.C.R.S. Your support to this and future endeavors, in their aspiration to purchase lockers for the school, is very much appreciated.
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Lenten Weekend Retreat
“Seek the Lord”
by Franciscan Retreat Team,
Feb 7,8,9,2008 in Newton, NJ.
For more information please call Fr. Tom Kelly, OFM 973-985-9736 or Deacon Milt at 973-271-5097.
February Retreats
Bethany Spirituality Center
Highland Mills, NY, is offering the following retreats in February: “Valentine's Day Dinner Retreat for Married Couples:, with Margaret and Richard Green, February 14; “From Guilt to Grace”, with Rev. Michael Holleran and Dr. Edward J Poliandro, Feb 16. For information please visit www.bethanyspirtualitycenter.org or call (845-460-3061.)
Association of Marian Helpers
Divine Mercy Conference
Will be held on Saturday February 9, 2008 at Cardinal Spellman High School in the Bronx, NY. The theme is:
“Healing and Forgiveness through God's Mercy.”
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Help reduce poverty in the United States
“Poverty Around Us”
There are 4,803 children in New Jersey on waiting lists for child care assistance. Childcare needs place a burden on many individuals in the workin g poor population that often prevents them from attending traditional educational programs. Affordable childcare is necessary to ensure parents can work and update their skills.
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Grief Support Group
We all have such busy lives. Sometimes it is overwhelming. Take time and find the silence. For in the silence, you will hear His voice. Next meeting will be Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 7:00—8:30 in the Church Ministry House.
“Be still and know that I am God.”
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Help Support
Immaculate Conception Regional School
Scrip gift cards are available at the school. You can purchase Shop-Rite, Weis, A&P cards and they are available in many denominations. Also available: Sussex Meat Packing, Staples, Barnes & Noble, JC Penney, Sears, Bed Bath & Beyond, Wendy's Applebee's and many more. The cards cost only face value with a percentage returned to the school from the retailers. See Marie McKeever or contact Kathy Trainor at the school 973-827-3777.
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Mark Your Calendars
I.C.R.S. will hold its Annual Tricky Tray in the Emerald Ballroom at the Crystal Springs Country Club in Hardyston on Friday, February 8, 2008. Doors open at 6:30pm and calling begins promptly at 8:30pm.
There will be special trays and PRIZES!
No one under 18 will be admitted.
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Rose Sale
Sponsored by:
Knights of Columbus
Marquette Council No. 588
Proceeds from this sale will be used to defray the cost of bus transportation to the March for Life Rally to Washington, D.C. The sale will take place before and after all Masses on January 19th and 20th.
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Please remember to pray for our parishioners and friends who are ill:
In Nursing Homes: Ceil Williams, Pauline Trofimuk, Anna Elekes, Pete Yurchak and Frank Kalafut.
At Home: Loraine Schenker, Maria Woppel, Diane Sidoli, Robert Zeuner, Evelyn Caljean, Danielle Dionisio, Thomas Dionisio, Jr., Steven “Itchy” Novak, Flo Yurchak, Mary Carmody and Lisa Stine.
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Please continue to keep all those serving in the military in your thoughts and prayers especially:
Jamison Micke, Stephen Saski, Jr., Christopher Faber, SFC Morgan McHose, LCPL William Mathes, LCPL Ernest Mathes, Karen Hassler, Tom Oroho and CPL Matt Lindquist.
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March for Life—Washington DC—1/22/08
Saint Francis de Sales Church in Vernon, NJ is sponsoring a bus trip to the Right-to-Life March in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.
If you are interested in participating, please call the parish office at 973-827-3248. Cost is $35 per person and is due by January 16. The bus leaves the Vernon A&P parking lot at 6AM and will return approximately 10:30PM. (HS Students require a signed permission slip.)
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Pro-Life Rally-Trenton, NJ-1/22/08
For those who cannot make the trip to Washington for the March for Life, a pro-life rally is being held at the State House in Trenton. If you are interested in going please call Sussex County Right to Life at 973-948-5989.
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Looking Forward to a Spiritual Get-Away?
Religious Pilgrimage in Assisi, Italy, July 5-15 This pilgrimage is sponsored by the Assisi Music Festival. Join Msgr. Paul Bochicchio, Pastor of Holy Family Church, Nutley, NJ. with special Masses at The Basilica of St. Francis and the Vatican. For more information call Gregory Scime 908-277-1145
Bethany Spirituality Center Pilgrimage to Italy, including Assisi, Siena, Florence and Rome, March 25-April 3, 2008 led by Sr. Pat Reid, OSF, and Rev. Bill Drobach, SA. Mass will be celebrated daily. For information call 845-460-3061 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Just for FUN!
St. Monica's Church Present the Caribbean with Cunard Cruise Lines on the Queen Mary 2. 11/days/10 nights April 6, 2008. For more information contact Carol Besak 973-875-4521
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Congratulations and Happy Birthday
to one of our parishioners, Madge Glynn, who will celebrate her 90th birthday on January 11, 2008.
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SORTING OUR CHOICES
Whether to have chocolate or vanilla ice cream, whether to stay home by the fire or go out to a movie, whether to vacation in the mountains or at the seashore they are all pleasant options. Sometimes, however, life calls for much deeper choices, ones that demand a yes or a no from our entire being.
We should have great peace if we did not busy ourselves with what others say and do. --Thomas à Kempis
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INSIDE THE READINGS
Identifying Jesus as the Son of God is clearly the principal thrust of today's Gospel. A remarkable theophany follows John's baptism of Jesus. God the Father's voice "came from the heavens, saying, 'This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased' " (Matthew 3:17). Matthew here as always stresses the fulfillment of the old covenant in the new. Today's first reading from Isaiah speaks of the Suffering Servant: "Here is my servant whom I uphold, / my chosen one with whom I am pleased" (Isaiah 42:1). God tells the Psalmist, "You are my son; /today I am your father" (Psalm 2:7).
The appearance of the Trinity is completed as the Holy Spirit, "descending like a dove and coming upon him," anoints Jesus for his ministry (Matthew 3:16). Today's second reading stresses this role of the Spirit: "God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power" (Acts 10:38). Isaiah also presents the Suffering Servant "[u]pon whom I put my spirit" (Isaiah 42:1).
The baptism of Jesus is fittingly celebrated the week after Epiphany. The events at the baptism make it clear that this is another "epiphany," a manifestation of Jesus as Son of God. The voice of God at the baptism, however, is the first public proclamation of Christ as the Son of God.
The baptism itself is an important event in the life of Jesus, mentioned in all four Gospels. Matthew alone deals with an obvious problem. Why would the Son of God allow himself to be baptized by a human being? Jesus' responds to the Baptist, "Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15). The righteousness or justice of God is God's will to save all. Part of God's plan is for Jesus to identify himself with sinners and bring God's salvation to them. His baptism is an early proof that he does identify with sinners to win forgiveness for their sins.
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THOUGHTS FOR ACTION
Life seldom unfolds in ways of our own choosing. A wisdom greater than our own seems to lie hidden beneath our own dreams, a wisdom that brings us to new and unexpected places. At such times God's Spirit comes upon us.
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Excerpted and edited from LIVING THE WORD, for the Baptism of the Lord, commentary by Msgr. Ralph Kuehner and Rev. Joseph Juknialis, 8 2008 by J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. 1/13/08

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