Saint Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church

Portsmouth, Ohio

e-Bulletin

 

February 3rd , 2008

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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February 4 – February 10

 

 Mon.        12:00 pm          Cecilia Mohr

 

 Tues           12:00 pm          Joseph Augustin/Pat Augustin

 

                                ASH WEDNESDAY

 Wed           12:00 pm          Audrey Kirby/Martha Griffin

                      7:00 pm           Richard Kielmar/Ann Kempf

 

 Thur          12:00 pm           Communion        

 

Fri               5:30 pm             Mildred Basel Memorial Mass

                                                                               

Sat                5:45 pm            Greg Fitzer/Karen & John DiTraglia

 

Sun               9:00 am            Andy Bray/Jeff Glynn

                  11:30 am            Living & Deceased Members of The Parish

 

Confession:  Saturday, 4:30-5 PM or by appointment.

Wedding: Couple must see priest 4 months in advance.

Baptism: Call Pastor (353-3858) for appointment.                   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

BLESSED ARE THE POOR IN SPIRIT; THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN IS THEIRS!

 

Today’s Readings  All three of today’s readings speak to us of God’s preferential option for the lowly. Zephaniah speaks of the faithful “remnant of Israel,” while Matthew and Paul point to the lowly and despised Christians living in Roman-occupied lands.

      The Church today continues to remind us of God’s preferential option for the poor and the marginalized. More than one hundred years ago Pope Leo XIII issued the first encyclical to address social issues.

      In our own time, the U.S. bishops have issued a number of documents that have dealt with social issues.

      It is the responsibility of the pope and the bishops to challenge us, to examine structures of society with an eye toward the manner in which we treat the poor and marginalized of our world. It is our responsibility to respond to such challenges with actions that can lead to structural changes. Do we cross the street in order to avoid an encounter with a shabbily dressed person? If we do speak, is it in a condescending manner?

      God does not necessarily call us to choose material poverty for ourselves and our families, but God does call us to be one with each other in poverty of spirit – a poverty where each human being is valued and treated as an image of the Creator.

 

LENT

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of Fast and Abstinence. Also the Fridays of Lent are days of Abstinence.

The Law of Fast means that everyone between the ages of 18 and 59 must eat only one full meal along with 2 lesser meals on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

The Law of Abstinence from Meat means that everyone 14 years of age or older must abstain from eating meat on Ash Wednesday and the Fridays of Lent.

 

BLACK AND INDIAN MISSIONS collection next Sunday. Last year your support went to help some of the neediest people across the U.S: from the inner cities of the rural south and from the deserts of the Southwest to Alaska’s cold wilderness. 134 Dioceses received assistance from the collection.

 

RCIA TOPIC FOR THE COMING WEEK: Church History/What is Lent? Tuesday at 7 PM. Anyone and everyone is invited to attend our sessions.

 

30 ways to live a holier life:..24th one. .Pray for others.

Pray for those involved in a passing funeral procession, an accident, or whenever you hear a fire or a police siren. Cross yourself and ask God to help all those who are ill or in pain – and those who work to heal them.

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PLEASE PRAY FOR: Ruth Emnett, Becky Miller, Courtney Clifford, Frank Balmert, Mary Grooms, Etta Ladd, Fr. Dwayne McNew and his Mother Ruth, Mary Archangeli, Teresa Orlett, Pat Augustin, Mary Montavon, Terry Hill, Ashley Hill, Kaitlyn Reeves, Dorothy & Mary E. Goldcamp, Dottie Cochran, Margaret Terlau, L.P. Sumpter and please pray for those serving in our military.

 

STEWARDSHIP REPORT

January 27

Regular Collection.................................. $4,698.75

Thank you for your generosity to St. Mary Parish.

 

PRAY   FAST   SHARE

LENTEN SIMPLE SUPPER MEALS:  Various committees of the parish will again be providing  a Simple Supper following the 5:30 PM Mass on Friday’s, during Lent, followed by Stations of the Cross at 7 PM. (Donations will be accepted and proceeds will go to the local Right to Life Chapter.) First supper – February 8. Join us for an evening of prayer, preparation and plain, good food!!

 

LENTEN ALMSGIVING:  St. Mary and All Saints Episcopal Church partner together to feed the less fortunate with a meal every 4th Saturday of the month at All Saints called “Loaves and Fishes.” All Saints has now asked us to partner with them for a Journey by Faith Health Ministry they already have in place. The health ministry events take place during our Loaves and Fishes ministry. The first ministry is a spring health fair to be at All Saints on May 17th. There will be health screening provided along with gifts of toiletries. If you would like to help (as part of your almsgiving for Lent) you can bring the following items to St. Mary’s where baskets will be provided at both entrances…..soaps, shampoos, razors, feminine items, toilet paper, deodorants, lotions, diapers or baby items of any kind, tooth paste, tooth brushes, etc.

 

RICE BOWLS:  For over 28 years, Operation Rice Bowl has inspired Catholics in the U.S. to pray, fast, learn, and give as we increase our understanding of our global community throughout our Lenten journey.

        Bowls are available at the side and back entrances of the Church on Ash Wednesday. They are to be returned on Holy Thursday.

 

OUR LADY OF LOURDES, OTWAY, has been designated by Bishop Campbell as one of the places of pilgrimage for the Diocese of Columbus in celebration of the 150th anniversary of the apparition of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St. Bernadette at Lourdes, France. People who visit these designated churches between the dates of Feb. 2-8 can receive a plenary indulgence. On Sunday, Feb. 3rd, at 3 PM, there will be the recitation of the Rosary followed by a healing service with the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. All who are in need of the sacrament are invited to participate. Confessions will be heard during the Rosary. The church will be opened on Pilgrimage Days from Noon until 6 PM.

 

CATHOLIC TIMES: Subscription envelopes are included in your February collection packet. For $15 per year, subscribers receive a Catholic perspective on the world around us. Bishop Campbell encourages every Catholic family to subscribe. Look for your envelope and sign up for, or re-subscribe.

 

Cedar Point ’08 …….Dates for this year is June 25-27. This is a change from previous years…usually the 3rd Thursday of June, because Fr. Ted waited too long to reserve the Retreat Center in Avon. That is now reserved and so is the Croswell bus. Hope this doesn’t inconvenience any of the prospective attendees. Also, I’ll be reducing the number of student tickets by 5 since we’ve had a lack of interest on their part. I can always get more tickets at the park for a discounted price! Make plans now to attend! This year they’re expanding the little iddy bitty kiddy rides

(Camp Snoopy)…so no new coasters this time.

 

Ministries Schedule

Saturday, Feb. 09 – 5:45 pm

 

 Reader I            Gerald Martin

 Reader II          Mary Ann Malone

 Host:                  Julia Smith

 Cup 1                 Elizabeth Hurst

 Cup 2                 Debbie Lindner

 Cup 3                 Deacon Chris

 Cup 4                 Yvonne Bowman

 Servers               Paul York

                             Amy Varacalli

                             Greg July

Greeters              Pat Schaefer

                             Mary Martha Questel

                                            

Sunday, Feb. 10 – 9:00 am

 

 Reader I            James Kelly

 Reader II          Mima Vita

 Host                   Patrick Donini

 Cup 1                 Anne Emnett

 Cup 2                 Ellis Holcomb

 Cup 3                 Gregory Graf

 Cup 4                 Mary Hill

 Servers               Lauren Edwards

                             Dawn Whitaker

                             John McHugh

 Greeters             Andrew Nichols

                             Brooke Fraley

 

Sunday, Feb. 10– 11:30 am

 

 Reader I            Jeff Barron

 Reader II          Tom Kayser

 Host:                  Al Varhola

 Cup 1                 Virginia Varhola

 Cup 2                 Richard Orlett

 Cup 3                 Deacon George

 Cup 4                 Pete Saltsman

 Servers               Katie Kayser

                             Rosa Storey

                             Jack Kayser

Greeters              J.R. & Leigh

                             Phillips

 Counters:          Susan Frasher

                             Freda Kielmar

 Cleaning:          Jean Dillow

                             Janet Welty

 

 

This week’s Sponsor

Compliments of

Wendy’s

Old Fashioned Hamburgers

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