Bulletin for the Week of December 30, 2012

LOOKING AHEAD Jan 1: New Year’s Day Mass 10:00 AM Jan 6; Feb 3; Mar 10; Apr 7; May 5: Classes in Preparation for Confirmation 6:30, St. James Parish Center Jan 19-20 Food Shelf Weekend Feb 13: Ash Wednesday May 12: First Communion May 25: Priest Ordination of Rev. Mr. Scott Belina, St. Mary’s Cathedral, 11:00 AM TOP NOTCH LINKS www.catholic.org (Catholic information) http/heartofthenation.org (Prayers and Mass) Mission Intention for January That the riches of the created world may be preserved, valued, and made available as God’s precious gift to all. STATEMENT OF GIVING FOR INCOME TAXES: If you wish to receive a statement of your financial contributions to St. James Church for 2012, please indicate this on your Sunday offering envelope so that we can assure confidentiality. PRAYER FOR FAMILIES In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, we belong to each other as we belong to you, God ever faithful. By morning and by night may your name be on our lips, a blessing to all our days: so may kindness and patience be ever among us, a hunger for justice, and songs of thankfulness in all we do. May the Lord Jesus, who lived with his holy family in Nazareth, dwell also with our family, and keep us from all evil, and make all of us in one heart and mind. Amen. FUNERAL: A funeral was celebrated this week for Bernard Hayes. Please remember him and his family in your prayers. ST BROTHER ANDRE EVENT: St. Peter’s Parish in Plattsburgh will celebrate the Feast Day of St. Brother Andre on Sunday afternoon, January 6th. Activities will include: adoration and prayer, film, Christmas Carols, refreshments and The Sacrament of the Sick. All will occur in and around the Chapel of St. Frere Andre and the Emmaus Room. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will begin after the 11 am Mass and conclude with Benediction at 3:30pm. A special film on St Andre will be shown twice during the afternoon. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and veneration of a relic of St. Brother Andre will continue the entire time in the Chapel. All are welcome to all or part of the afternoon. MARRIAGE TIP: Have a tough decision to make? There are two extremes to avoid. Rationalization means you play loose with the truth and talk yourself into doing what you always wanted to do anyway. Scrupulosity involves following the letter of the law more than the spirit. Seek the golden mean. Find more Marriage Rx at www.foryourmarriage.org 2013 SUNDAY OFFERING ENVELOPES: Please pick up your 2013 Sunday offering envelopes. Anyone wishing to use envelopes who are not currently using them can take an unmarked box. Be sure to place your name and address on the first few envelopes so that your name and number can be recorded. Children should pick up envelopes for themselves. HOLY FAMILY SUNDAY: St. Joseph doesn’t get much space in the New Testament. Joseph protected Jesus from King Herod. The king was worried when he heard that a child had been born who would be the king of the Jews. He asked the wise men to search for this child in Bethlehem and then come back to report to him. He told the wise men he wanted to pay homage to the new king. But the wise men were warned in a dream not to go back to Herod. Fearing a new king, Herod sent soldiers to kill all the male children in Bethlehem who were two years old or younger. Joseph, warned by an angel, fled with his family to Egypt to escape Herod’s plot. There they lived until King Herod died, when Joseph could safely move the family back to Nazareth. THANKS: Thanks to all who helped in any way to make Christmas Eve and Day 2012 a most blessed and prayerful time of the year. Among the many who helped we are most thankful to parents whose children provided Christmas hymns, to those who prepared the church, members of the choir and organist, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Altar Servers and Ushers. NEW YEARS DAY: In the Catholic Church New Year’s Day is a holy day of obligation and is celebrated in honor of Mary, the Holy Mother of God. Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 AM.