We have come to worship the king hemos venido para adorar al rey Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish Parroquia de Nuestra Señora de la Medalla Milagrosa MASS SCHEDULE Saturday: Sunday: Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri Wednesday: 5:00 PM — Vigil 8:00 AM & 11:00 AM 2:30 PM — La Misa en español 10:00 AM 10:00 AM & 6:00 PM The Epiphany of the Lord 300 Pike Street. Meadow Lands PA 15347 724‐222‐1911 Office Hours: 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM www.MiraculousMedalChurch.org January 3, 2016 January 3, 2016 THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Page 2 PARISH FAITH LA FE DE LA PARROQUIA LOOKING IN THE RIGHT PLACES BUSCAR EN EL LUGAR CORRECTO “Appearances can be deceiving,” as the saying goes. As we celebrate the epiphania, the “appearing” of the eternal Word of God on earth, this is still true. What rapturous foresight must have filled Isaiah as he wrote the words we hear today. How, for four hundred years, they must have filled the hearts of the people of Israel with hope for the day when God’s glory would shine on them. How deceived some must have felt when the glory of God came to them in the lowliest and humblest of human lives. We have many expectations about how the divine presence will appear among us. But we can also set ourselves up, through these expectations, to miss the divine glory when it truly appears. We get caught up in looking for the star, forgetting that the star is not the divine sign, the babe is. It may take a persistent journey for us to come upon the true appearance of God’s glory in our lives: Jesus Christ. “Las apariencias engañan” dice el refrán. Al celebrar la epifanía, la manifestación del Verbo de Dios eterno en la tierra, el refrán sigue siendo cierto. ¡Qué sublime premonición debe haber sentido Isaías al escribir las palabras que hoy escuchamos! Por cuatrocientos años, cómo habrán llenado los corazones del pueblo de Israel con esperanzas de que llegaría el día en que la gloria de Dios se derramaría sobre ellos. ¡Qué desilusionados deben haberse sentido algunos cuando la gloria de Dios les llegó en una vida humana de las más bajas y humildes! Tenemos muchas expectativas de cómo la presencia divina va a manifestarse entre nosotros. Pero también podemos exponernos, por culpa de esas expectativas, a perder de vista la gloria divina cuando se nos aparece de verdad. Nos entretenemos buscando la estrella, y nos olvidamos que la estrella no es la señal divina, sino el bebé. Puede que tengamos que persistir en el camino antes de llegar a encontrarnos con la apariencia real de la gloria de Dios en nuestra vida: Jesucristo. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION TRADICIONES DE NUESTRA FE Over the next few weeks, if you were to stroll around Prague or Budapest or Kraków, you might see curious grafitti scratched in chalk over some doorways: “20 + C + M + B + 16.” The families dwelling behind those doors have celebrated the Epiphany door blessing. They have gathered before the feast-day meal, probably after Mass, and the head of the family has traced the sign of the cross on the piece of chalk. Standing on a ladder, the leader traces the numbers for the new year, and the letters C M B for Christus Mansionem Benedicat, Latin for “May Christ bless this house.” The letters also point to the names that tradition has assigned to the mysterious magi, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar—although scripture tells us nothing of their number, their country, or their names. The blessing speaks of journeys ended and journeys begun at the doorway, and prays that all journeys be as satisfying as was the magi’s. It prays that the house beyond the door have the quality of love and peace that the magi marveled at when they at last arrived in Bethlehem. In some countries where the Soviet Union tried to impose a harsh atheism, the vigor of this household custom survived all efforts to erase Christian customs. In the years of struggle, the chalked blessings were a pervasive sign of defiance, and now in the light of new freedoms, they are a sign of the resilience of our tradition and the fulfillment of the magi’s quest for meaning and peace. Es tiempo de añadir los reyes magos al pesebre. En 1448 llegaron los pesebres italianos a las iglesias españolas, pero no fue hasta que el Rey Carlos III le regaló un pesebre a su hijo en el siglo XVIII que el uso de pesebres se expandió en los hogares. Desde entonces, el uso de nacimientos llegó al continente americano en donde se convierte en la decoración principal para las fiestas navideñas. Así como en todo país latinoamericano el montaje del Belén es una tradición, lo es también en Venezuela. Con el pesebre venezolano llegan también aguinaldos, parrandas, Misas y patines. ¡Sí! ¡Patines! Desde la mitad del siglo pasado los venezolanos celebran la época navideña con “patinadas”. Estas “patinadas” normalmente se hacen por las mañanas y muchas calles están cerradas a los autos hasta las 8 a.m. para que niños y jóvenes puedan disfrutar de los patines, bicicletas y otros juguetes que les regala el niño Dios. Por eso, muchos niños duermen con un “cordoncito” atado al dedo gordo de los pies, que cuelgan por la ventana para que los despierten los que pasan patinado. BIRTHDAYS THIS WEEK BUENA DISPOSICIÓN Una buena disposición es una virtud en sí misma, y es duradera; el peso de los años no la deprecian, y el amor que se funda en ella perdura hasta el fin.—Ovidio LOS CUMPLEAÑOS DE ESTA SEMANA Fr. Carmen, Robert Hess, Taylor Lucas, Thomas Olszewski, Katelyn Phillippi, Dylan Ruiz, Yahir Ruiz, Timothy Birdsong, Rosemary Kosiorek, Allison Craig, Layla Huff, Michael Maloy, James Martin, Deb Moroco, Charlotte Natili, Molly Welch, Robin Barnhart, Donald Kuritz, Iridian Ambriz, Allen Pollus, Donald Breth, Norman A. Cimino, Frank Stanek, Marah Coleman, Jason Lombardi, Dennis Milliken, Sylvia Oblock, Aaron Pounds and Mary Boroch January 3, 2016 OUR LADY OF THE MIRACULOUS MEDAL PARISH LIFE CHARTIERS TWP. VOL. FIRE DEPT. Dear Fr. D'Amico, On behalf of the active and reserve brigade members of the Chartiers Twp.Volunteer Fire Department I would like to thank you and your parishioners for your heartfelt and generous gift and prayers. It is our sincere hope our services will never have to be called upon. But if ever needed we always respond with all our strength, training and what we feel the best equipment around. We ask you to continue to pray for us. Thank you, Joe Politan/Sec. Page 3 PARISH LIFE LITTLE MINUTES Little drops of water, little grains of sand, make the mighty ocean and the pleasant land; so the little minutes, humble though they be, make the mighty ages of eternity. —Julia A. Fletcher Carney AROUND THE DIOCESE ST. ANTHONY SCHOOL PROGRAMS & DEPAUL SCHOOL FOR THE HEARING AND SPEECH PRO LIFE ANNOUNCEMENTS The Next Respect Life Meetings will be January 15, 2015 all at 6pm. in the Church Hall. THANK YOU FROM THE CHRISTIAN MOTHERS Maggie Havelka and the Scholarship Committee would like to thank everyone who purchased cookie trays, baked cookies and made monetary contributions to the Annual Scholarship Cookie Sale. It was once again a huge success thanks to all of you. May God bless you. The Pittsburgh Diocese is home to two nationally recognized educational programs for children with special needs: St. Anthony School Programs and DePaul School for Hearing and Speech (formerly known as The DePaul Institute). A special collection to benefit these two organizations will be taken the weekend of January 16-17, 2016 at all Masses at each parish. Your donation will help St. Anthony School Programs and DePaul School for Hearing and Speech to further their goals of providing quality educational programs and services to their students. Your support is critical. Your generosity will help these organizations forever improve the lives of their students and families. RELIGIOUS ARTICLES Find an app for your phone that has the daily readings! Try Laudate or The Pope App. Get us on your mobile! Do you have a surplus of religious items? We can find someone who would be happy to receive them.Any questions please call Patti at: 724-7455790 or email at: pbarnes84@gmail.com THE CHURCH EVANGELIZING! Stop by the Diocese website and learn more about reaching out to others, as we are called by our baptism: Go to churchevangelizing.com. OUR MASSES ON THE WEB www.MiraculousMedalChurch.org Don’t forget to stop by our website while you are surfing the web. We are constantly updating it with news and events. We also have our Masses streamed live as well as archived from previous Masses. Register on the site to get current news. MARCH FOR LIFE The annual March for Life will be Friday, January 22, 2016 Please sign up for the trip to Washington D.C. as soon as possible. The cost for Adults is $10.00 to help defray the cost of the bus. Children are free. For reservations please call: Jan Chehovin at 724-222-8513 or call Rectory at 724-222-1911.\ January 3, 2016 DAY SAT. JAN. 2 LA EPIFANÍA DEL SEÑOR TIME 10:00 AM 10:45‐11:30 AM 4:00 PM 5:00 PM EVENTS MASS INTENTIONS Mass Confession Confession Mass Anthony Bier + Birthday, req. Family Teresa Rumanek +, req. Chris an Mothers Page 4 OBSERVANCES & READINGS Ss. Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen; First Saturday 1 Jn 2:22‐28; Ps 98:1‐4; Jn 1:19‐28 SUN. JAN. 3 8:00 AM Mass 11:00 AM Mass 2:30 PM Spanish Mass Joe Testa +, req. by Gene Yoest Epiphany of the Lord; Dorothy Balazy +, req. Sco & Sandy Gump Na onal Migra on Week Father Carmen (Birthday), req. Mary Ann & Jen 1 Is 60:1‐6; Ps 72:1‐2, 7‐8, 10‐13; Eph 3:2‐3a, 5‐6; Mt 2:1‐12 MON. JAN. 4 10:00 AM Mass 10:45 AM Miraculous Medal Novena Richard Bandi +, req. Steve & Linda Se o St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 1 Jn 3:22 — 4:6; Ps 2:7bc‐8, 10‐12a; Mt 4:12‐17, 23‐25 TUE. JAN. 5 10:00 AM Mass O s Davis +, req. Mary Ann Lecci St. John Neumann 1 Jn 4:7‐10; Ps 72:1‐4, 7‐8; Mk 6:34‐44 WED. JAN. 6 10:00 AM Mass 6:00 PM Mass 6:30 PM Bingo, CCD Center 6:45‐7:30 PM Confession 7:00 PM RCIA Louis Passarello + (Birthday), req. The Sprouses St. André Besse e 1 Jn 4:11‐18; Ps 72:1‐2, 10, 12‐13; Margaret Nagy Everly + Req. Husband, Cliff Everly Mk 6:45‐52 THU. JAN. 7 10:00 AM Mass Richard Stelzer + (Birthday), req. Stelzer Family St. Raymond of Penyafort; Julian Calendar Christmas 1 Jn 4:19 — 5:4; Ps 72:1‐2, 14, 15bc, 17; Lk 4:14‐22a FRI. JAN. 8 ALL DAY ADORATION 10:00 AM Mass 7:00 PM Pasada Catherine Denner +, req. Bingo Workers 1 Jn 5:5‐13; Ps 147:12‐15, 19‐20; Lk 5:12‐16 Elmer Sobansky +, req. Don & Becky Kurtz Eileen Felton + Req. Fitzharris & Yancich Families 1 Jn 5:14‐21; Ps 149:1‐6a, 9b; Jn 3:22‐30 Holy Name Society, req. Members Jim Boylan +, req. Donna Meuer PARISHIONERS Is 42:1‐4, 6‐7 or Is 40:1‐5, 9‐11; Ps 29:1‐4, 3, 9‐10 or Ps 104:1b‐4, 24‐25, 27‐30; Acts 10:34‐38 or Ti 2:11‐14; 3:4‐7; Lk 3:15‐16, 21‐22 SAT. JAN. 9 SUN. JAN. 10 9:30 AM 10:00 AM 10:45‐11:30 AM 4:00 PM 5:00 AM Benedic on Mass Confession Confession Mass 8:00 AM Mass 11:00 AM Mass 2:30 PM Spanish Mass THE ARCHIVES OF THE VATICAN The Archives (Archivio Segreto Va cano )pursues it specific ac vity aimed at preserving and enhancing the deeds and documents related to the government of the Universal Church. It primarily serves the Roman Pon ff and the Holy See and secondly offers its services to scholars of all faiths from all na ons. The current name, the « Archivio Segreto Va cano » has been documented as from the mid 17th century, when, like today, it was given to the pope’s private (secretum) archives over which he exercised supreme and sole jurisdic on. The documentary heritage housed in its vast storerooms spans about twelve centuries (8th to 20th centuries). It consists of over 600 archival fonds and is stored on over 85 linear kilometres of shelving, some of which is in the Bunker, a two‐storey underground vault below the Cor le della Pigna of the Va can Museums. A er Pope Leo XIII opened the doors of the Archivio Segreto Va cano to scholars back in 1881, it has become one of the most famous history research centres in the world. In accordance with a prac ce established in 1924, the pope grants free access to the documents «grouped into pon ficates» currently running up to the end of the papacy of Pope Pius XI (February 1939). Nevertheless, Paul VI departed from this prac ce and granted scholars access to the Archives of the Second Va can Council (1962‐1965) a er the Council came to a close in 1965; Pope John Paul II granted access to the fond Ufficio Informazioni Va cano, Prigionieri di Guerra (Prisoners of War) (1939‐1947); lastly, the fonds Commissione Centrale per l’Arte Sacra in Italia(1924‐1989) and Censimento degli Archivi Ecclesias ci d’Italia (1942) have been made accessible to the scholars. January 3, 2016 Page 5 PARROQUIA DE NUESTRA SEÑORA DE LA MEDALLA MILAGROSA THE HOLY YEAR OF MERCY — December 8, 2015 to December 20, 2016 THE CORPORAL WORKS OF MERCY Pope Francis pushed open the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica, formally launching the Holy Year of Mercy, at the Vatican Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015. Francis stood in prayer on the threshold of the basilica's Holy Door then walked through it, the first of an estimated 10 million faithful who will pass through over the course of the next year in a rite of pilgrimage dating back centuries. Osservatore Romano/Pool Photo via AP) The Corporal Works of Mercy are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat all others, as if they were Christ in disguise. They "are charitable actions” by which we help our neighbors in their bodily needs. They respond to the basic needs of humanity as we journey together through this life. The seven Corporal Works of Mercy are listed below. After each work of mercy there are also suggestions and words of advice for living them out in our daily lives. Have your own suggestions? Let us know @USCCB and use the hashtag #mercyinmotion. The seven Corporal Works of Mercy Feed the hungry Give Drink to the thirsty Give alms to the poor Shelter the homeless Visit the sick Visit the prisoners Bury the dead PARISH INFORMATION AND CONTACTS Clergy Carmen A. D’Amico, Pastor John Odeyemi, Priest in Residence Anton V. Mobley, Permanent Deacon Parish Staff Rosalie Eckels, Religious Education Director Jennifer Derrick, Music Director & Organist Mary Ann Lecci, Parish Secretary Don Ross, Coordinator of Ministries Andrew James, M aintenance, M on-Fri Dean Gindlesperger, M aintenance, Sat-Sun Phone Numbers Area Code (724) Rectory: 222-1911 Rectory: 206-9677 Rectory Fax: 222-5688 CCD Center: 228-8575 Religious Education Office: 228-9088 Religious Education Fax: 228-1488 e-mail: olmm@comcast.net Mass Schedule Saturday: 5:00 p.m. Vigil Sunday: 8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m. 2:30 p.m. -La Misa en español Weekday: Mon - Sat: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday: 10:00 a.m. & 6:00 p.m. Holy Days: (check bulletin schedule) Bulletin Deadline Thursday at noon for the following week. Baptism and Marriage Contact the Rectory Safe Environment Coordinator Ed Holmes Phone: 724-886-1484 Email: ed.holmes@mir aculousmedalchur ch.or g Diocesan Abuse Hotline 1-888-808-1235 WEEKLY OFFERING Average Weekly Expense Collec on for Sunday December 20, 2015 Deficit $ 6,100.00 $ 4,221.00 $ 1,879.00 Parish Share Assessment: Parish Share collected to date: Anything collected over our Parish Share assessment will go into our savings. $ 67,359.00 $ 46,778.00+