My dear parish family, - St. Francis of Assisi Roman Catholic Church

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD
SUNDAY – JANUARY 11, 2015
Dear Friends in Christ,
Today the Church celebrates another Epiphany of the Lord: the
Baptism of the Lord at the Jordan River by John the Baptist. With
the baptism by John, “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy
Spirit and with power, that He might be revealed to Israel as its
Messiah.” The one who anointed is the Father, the one who was
anointed is the Son, and he was anointed with the Spirit who is the
anointing.” (C.C.C #438).
Do you remember the date when you were baptized? We remember
the date when we were born into this world, but how about the date
of our spiritual birth, the day that The Almighty God gave us
“power to become children of God” (John 1:12).
You and I may wonder why Jesus wanted to receive baptism from
John the Baptist. The baptism from John that people received was
seen as their response to John’s call to repentance and renewal of
their lives. Did Jesus need to receive that baptism? Absolutely no,
but He did for our sake: He is revealed as “the Beloved Son” of the
Father, the Messiah, our Savior.
Peace,
Fr. Tien
He entered into the water of Jordan River to be baptized, so the
water of the world would be sanctified which later was used for our
baptism in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy
Spirit. By receiving baptism from John, Jesus again teaches us to be
humble as He always is.
Today, let us remember the day we were baptized as children or
adults. That was the day we “officially” were called the Children of
God and became the members of the Mystical Body of Christ - the
Church. On that day our souls were clean and pure as God planned
when He created human beings.
When Adam and Eve ignored and rejected God's plan, they
“committed a personal sin, but this sin affected the human nature
that they would then transmit in a fallen state. It is
a sin which will be transmitted by propagation to
all mankind, that is, by the transmission of a human
nature deprived of original holiness and justice.
And that is why original sin is call “sin” only in
analogical sense: it is a sin “contracted” and not
“committed”-a state and not an act.” (C.C.C #404)
With the sacrament of baptism, we were freed from original sin and
from our personal sins (if we were baptized as adults). On that day
the virtues infused into the soul were faith, hope, and charity.
Among the gifts of grace infused at baptism are the peace and joy of
the Holy Spirit, which made possible the practice of the Beatitudes.
Are you still living as “CHILDREN OF GOD?” And do you see
others as “CHILDREN OF GOD” too?
P.S. Once again I would like to say thanks to all who
contributed to the celebrations of Christmas and New
Year through your ministries: named or unnamed.
Though this Christmas and New Year brought us with
some unexpected things, the Love, Peace and Joy of
the Prince of Peace did fill our family at Saint Francis
of Assisi and those who visited our Church this Christmas. Thank
you all. May God bless and reward you as He sees your hearts.
As you have been heard that this November, my brother Fr. James
(St. Benedict Church in Greensboro, NC) and myself will have
another pilgrimage to Portugal, Spain and France, if you are
interesting in joining us, please stop by the office and pick up the
brochure and quickly make a deposit to secure the place. I think
this will be my last traveling overseas with you. There are also
some of my Vietnamese friends from Charlotte who will join us this
time. Pray and join us.
STEWARDSHIP
January 3-4, 2015
BUDGETED WEEKLY NEEDS
OFFERTORY TOTAL
Envelopes and Cash
Online Giving
$4,825.00
$2,269.50
$1,909.50
$ 360.00
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS
Envelopes and Cash
Online Giving
$1,815.00
$1,620.00
$ 195.00
ATTENDANCE
Unfortunately, the effects of original sin remains after baptism.
They are: suffering and death, concupiscence and ignorance.
However, baptism gives us the grace to cope with suffering in this
life; the promise of deliverance from suffering after death and of
bodily immortality after the Resurrection; the grace to resist
concupiscence and thereby grow in holiness, and the infused virtue
of faith, which enables us to believe ALL that God has revealed
through Jesus Christ and through the Church built on the Rock
Peter.
The Sanctuary Lamp this week is in memory
of Howard Shouldice by Maria Montoya.
Saturday 4:00 p.m. 132
Sunday 9:00 a.m. 123
11:30 a.m. 405
Thank you to all who faithfully contribute
and are so generous to our parish.
Our sympathy to Diane Chovanic and family on the death of
her son, Danny Chovanic. May his soul and all the souls of
the faithful departed rest in God’s peace.
The Women’s Guild will have its monthly meeting at
10 am on January 12th in the Family Life Center.
All women of the Parish are invited.
Since Jim has retired from the confirmation class there has
not been someone to teach it until now. If you are a
student already enrolled in the class or if you would like to
enroll, the next class date will be this Wednesday at 6:30
pm. New candidates must be present at this meeting along
with their parent(s) in order to be enrolled. If you are not
here for this meeting with your parent(s) and are not enrolled you will
not be enrolled for this term of the confirmation class. -Robert Helma
Many parishioners (adults and youth)
will be traveling to Washington, D.C.
on January 21 for the March for Life.
Seats are still available for anyone who would like to attend. Call Julie
Tastinger at 421-2473 for information. Financial help is needed for
several of our youth. If you can help, please put your contribution in a
white envelope marked “Youth” and drop it in the collection. Thank you!
Thank you for your on-going support of the Food
Pantry. Tuna and cereal are needed at this time.
The 2015 calendars (both English and Spanish) are now
available at the entrances of the church. Please limit
one per family. Thank you!
Handmade rosaries are a beautiful gift to give or to have for
your own personal use. There are many colors and designs
to choose from and are available at our Parish Office.
The Combined Mission Collection will be taken next weekend. Your
contribution to the good work of these organizations
gives you an opportunity to participate in the
missionary activity of the Church on both a local and
world level. Give prayerful thought to your level of
participation and respond with a generous
contribution. The envelope can be found in your parish envelope packet.
Pray for everyone who seeks healing: Shirley Allegretti, Betty & Paul
Annulis, George Barlow, Monica Beattie, Louise Bernards, Randy
Bernards, Dean Birchard, Lonnie Bishop, Clyde Blue, Jim Broadwell, Ralph
Brown, Jeannie Burrows, Bill Chambless, Mary Ellen Chestnut, Orfeo
Cicchetti, Ed Cope, Juanita Cox, Richard Crow, Ashley Cuthbertson,
Lillianne Duong Davis, Richard DeBetta, Matthew Demond, Nadine
Denis, Dorothy Dodge, Pat Dziurgot, Jim Dzurus, Irma Ebbes, J. D.
Gibson, A. J. Golon, Lou Golon, Marti Golon, Eugene Gonzalez, Casper
Erb, Debbie Fouts, Dorothy Gordon, Elmer Gover, Thomas Grogan,
Michael Gruber, Joye Hadarits, Joyce Ann Hillard, Bill Himschoot, Charles
Hoefeyzers, Peggy Holcomb, Kevin Holland, Terry Holland, Carl Huebler,
Liz Hutchinson, Richard Kantner, Rachel Kay, Betsy Kendrick, Jack
Lammers, Mary Ann Malloy, Christopher Marinari, Debbie Matthews,
Fred Matthews, Riley Maynard, Gail McGrath, Lad Mezera, Bill Moffitt,
Dee Moffitt, Nancy Montgomery, Thelma Niolet, Kathy Obenshain, Alicia
Pack, Jane Putka, Giovanna “Laura” Rizzo, Terra Schear, Taylor Stacy,
Richard Stodghill, Junior Stoudemire, Ed Tisdale, Kennedi Vondryk, Ed
Taber, Sam Waldroop, Shy Warren, Bertha Watson, Caleb Watson, Teresa
Williams, Marlene Woods, Alice Yuzzi, Marilyn Zagorski.
Our elderly & shut-in parishioners: Katherine Baumann, Frances
DiMarchiso, Margaret Driscoll, Barbara Elliot, Marilyn Elman, Nicole
Meher, Walter Seeley.
For parishioners and all serving in our armed forces: Aaron Brooks,
Patrick Debo, Jeremiah Elam, Joseph Hagge, Gregory Himschoot,
Christian Houston, Ben Hunter, Carol Hysell, Thomas Hysell, Raymond
Hysell, Amy Hysell, and Stephen Karcher, Kyle McCormick. Pray
especially for all those who are stationed in areas of conflict.
Mass Schedule and Intentions
Saturday, January 10
The intentions of Maggie Besignano
4:00 P.M.
9:00 A.M.
11:30 A.M.
Sunday, January 11
The intentions of Malia Murphy
Parish People’s Mass - En Español
Monday, January 12
9:00 A.M.  Becky Hamilton
by Ronnie & Harriet Braasch
8:00 A.M.
Tuesday, January 13
Irene Keswich by Helen Waneski
Wednesday, January 14
5:30 P.M.  Scott Lobeck by Bill & Doris Lobeck
Thursday, January 15
9:00 A.M.  Richard Holzlohner
by Diane Holzlohner
9:00 A.M
Friday, January 16
Josette Roisin by Marie Cook
Saturday, January 17
4:00 P.M.  Ray Romano
Sunday, January 18
9:00 A.M.  Irene Deptola by Walter Deptola
11:30 A.M.
Parish People’s Mass - En Español
Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday from 3:00 to 3:45 P.M.
Wednesday at 6:15 P.M.
Rosary and The Divine Mercy Chaplet
The Rosary is recited everyday one half hour
before each Mass except for first Saturday.
The Divine Mercy Chaplet is recited
every Friday at 3 P.M.
CLASSES – MEETINGS
Sunday – Faith Formation – 10:30 to 11:30 am
Monday – R.C.I.A. Classes – 7:00 to 8:30 pm
1st & 3rd Tuesday – Craft & Sewing Group – 10:00 am
Wednesday – Confirmation Classes – 6:30 pm
Wednesday – First Communion Classes – 6:30 pm
Thursday – Choir Practice – 4:00 to 5:30 pm
Thursday – Adult Faith Formation – 6:30 pm
Friday – Men’s Group – 7:00 am