Bulletin for the Week of January 27, 2013

LOOKING AHEAD Jan 26-27: Special Respect Life Collection Jan 27-Feb 2: Catholic Schools Week Feb 3; Mar 10; Apr 7; May 5: Classes in Preparation for Confirmation 6:30, St. James Parish Center Feb 13: Ash Wednesday, Special Collection for Church in Central and Eastern Europe Masses: 8:30 AM and 5:30 PM Feb 16-17: Food Shelf Weekend Mar 16-17: Food Shelf Weekend Apr 20-21: Food Shelf Weekend 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) www.marylinks (Links on Mary) 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. HEALING MASS AND WORKSHOP: Internationally known healer & speaker, Fr. Richard McAlear, OMI will be at St. Peter’s Church for a special healing Mass on Friday, Feb. 8th @ 6:30 pm and Sat., Feb 9th from 1-2:30 pm for a Healing & Forgiveness Workshop/Holy Hour. All are welcome. Contact person for the events is Eve McGill: evemcgill@charter.net or 563-0001. RESPECT LIFE COLLECTION: This Monday marks the 40th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision, which legalised abortion on demand in our nation. Forty years later, society continues to ignore the dignity and sanctity of all human life. As Catholics we are proud to be a people of life and for life in all of its stages. Bishop LaValley has authorised a Respect Life Collection, which will take place in all the parishes of the diocese this weekend. Money collected will be disbursed in the form of grants to local organisations active in pro-life ministry. Bible Study Program, Our Lady of the Adirondacks House of Prayer, Ellenburg Center, Saturday, Feb. 9 & 16, March 9 & 16, and April 6, 10:30-noon. Rita Breen will make a presentation on themes of Lent. Drawing heavily from Scripture, through the discussions in these sessions, participants will discover the depth of their capacity to care for others and, in doing so, fully realize the depth of God's care and love. Please RSVP to olaprayerhouse@gmail.com or 518-594-3253. Light lunch provided. MARRIAGE TIP :Perhaps your children are grown and it’s just the two of you again. Great, but maybe not. Has your attention to each other grown stale or routine? Take up a new hobby, sport, or volunteer effort together. Find more Marriage Rx at www.foryourmarriage.org COMMUNION TO THE SICK: The Second Vatican Council,in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, speaks of the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of our spiritual life. This means the Holy Eucharist is the source from which all other blessings flow. Please advise Father Deno of homebound persons who would like to have Holy Communion brought to them at their LETTER FROM BISHOP LAVALLEY: Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Every year at this time, parishes in the Diocese of Ogdensburg hold a special second collection to help support diocesan pro-life efforts. Due to the generous response to last year’s Respect Life appeal, grants totaling $68,367 were awarded to twenty four entities within our diocese. Among them, your donations supported: Gabriel Projects in Gouverneur, Potsdam, Brasher Falls, Massena and Plattsburgh; Birthright in Plattsburgh and in Lewis County; Liferight of Watertown; Alexandria Bay Thrift Shop Building Project; Plattsburgh Newman Center Project 4 Life; Natural Family Planning and Pre-Cana materials; and a Theology of the Body workshop. Grant monies helped women with unplanned pregnancies and provided counseling services for teen mothers. It also made affordable an educational pilgrimage with five busloads of people from our North Country who participated in the annual March for Life in Washington, DC last January. If you are planning a Respect Life project and find yourself in need of assistance, please consider applying for a grant. An application form is available from your pastor, at the diocesan website or by contacting the Respect Life Office I am truly grateful for your support of our pro-life efforts in the Diocese of Ogdensburg. Your continual prayers and generous response to this year’s collection held next weekend will continue to benefit greatly our work in realizing a true Culture of Life. Gratefully yours in Christ, Most Reverend Terry R. LaValley

Bulletin for the Week of January 20, 2013

LOOKING AHEAD Jan 19-20 Food Shelf Weekend Jan 26-27: Special Respect Life Collection Feb 3; Mar 10; Apr 7; May 5: Classes in Preparation for Confirmation 6:30, St. James Parish Center Feb 13: Ash Wednesday Masses at 8:30 and 5:30 Feb 16-17: Food Shelf Weekend Mar 16-17: Food Shelf Weekend Apr 20-21: Food Shelf Weekend 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) www.marylinks (Links on Mary) 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. THANK YOU: St. James Parishioners received a letter from the Clinton County Department of Social Services regarding the Christmas Giving Tree as follows: Please accept this letter of sincere thanks for the generosity that your Parish bestowed upon the children of Clinton County this past Christmas. It is heartwarming to see such an outpouring of kindness in such trying economic and social times. Of course, St. James Parish has been a consistent supporter of the children and their families of this county in years past through you generous Christmastime donation and we recognize that community commitment over and over again. I thank you, the various Caseworkers and their Supervisors of the Social Services of the Clinton County Department of Social Services thank you wholeheartedly and I know these children would personally thank each and everyone of you if they could. WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY: We are celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2013 January 18-25 on the theme What does God require of me? (Micah 6:6-8). Begun in 1908, these days have been set aside each year so that Christians the world over may share the prayer of Jesus That they may all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me (John 17:21). Promoting Christian unity is an ecumenical movement among Christians to pray for unity among all Christians. Prayers for each day of the Octave can be found on http://www.geii.org Let us continue to pray for Christian Unity so that one day “all will be one”. HEALING MASS AND WORKSHOP: Internationally known healer & speaker, Fr. Richard McAlear, OMI will be at St. Peter’s Church for a special healing Mass on Friday, Feb. 8th @ 6:30 pm and Sat., Feb 9th from 1-2:30 pm for a Healing & Forgiveness Workshop/Holy Hour. All are welcome. Contact person for the events is Eve McGill: evemcgill@charter.net or 563-0001. NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING: The Diocesan NFP Office will begin a 3-part series of Natural Family Planning classes at St. John’s Church in Plattsburgh on Saturday, January 26th, at 1:00 P.M. To register, or to learn more, please contact the NFP Office at 518-483-0459 or email apietropaoli@dioogdensburg.org. 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. Bible Study Program, Our Lady of the Adirondacks House of Prayer, Ellenburg Center, Saturday, Feb. 9 & 16, March 9 & 16, and April 6, 10:30-noon. Rita Breen will make a presentation on themes of Lent. Drawing heavily from Scripture, through the discussions in these sessions, participants will discover the depth of their capacity to care for others and, in doing so, fully realize the depth of God's care and love. Please RSVP to olaprayerhouse@gmail.com or 518-594-3253. Light lunch provided. MARCH FOR LIFE: The annual March for Life starts on Sunday, January 20th at 1:30 at Blessed John XXIII Newman Center, 90 Broad Street, Plattsburgh and ends at St. John's Church, 20 Broad Street, Plattsburgh. Signs are provide. All are encourage to join in this peaceful, prayerful pro-life witness. The March is followed by a prayer service with guest speaker, Bishop Terry R. LaValley. Reception will follow in the lower church area. MARRIAGE TIP: If in doubt, don’t say it. Find more Marriage Rx at www.foryourmarriage.org COMMUNION TO THE SICK: The Second Vatican Council,in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, speaks of the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of our spiritual life. This means the Holy Eucharist is the source from which all other blessings flow. Please advise Father Deno of homebound persons who would like to have Holy Communion brought to them at their

Bulletin for the Week of January 13, 2013

LOOKING AHEAD Jan 19-20 Food Shelf Weekend Feb 3; Mar 10; Apr 7; May 5: Classes in Preparation for Confirmation 6:30, St. James Parish Center Feb 13: Ash Wednesday Masses at 8:30 and 5:30 Feb 16-17: Food Shelf Weekend Mar 16-17: Food Shelf Weekend Apr 20-21: Food Shelf Weekend 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) www.marylinks (Links on Mary) 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. FUNERAL: A funeral was celebrated this week for Philip Rice. Please remember him and his family in your prayers. WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY: We are celebrating the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2013 on January 18-25 on the theme What does God require of me? (Micah 6:6-8). Begun in 1908, these days have been set aside each year so that Christians the world over may share the prayer of Jesus That they may all be one as you, Father, are in me and I in you, that they also may be in us, that the world may believe that you sent me (John 17:21). Promoting Christian unity is an ecumenical movement among Christians to pray for unity among all Christians. Prayers for each day of the Octave can be found on http://www.geii.org Let us continue to pray for Christian Unity so that one day “all will be one”. NATURAL FAMILY PLANNING: The Diocesan NFP Office will begin a 3-part series of Natural Family Planning classes at St. John’s Church in Plattsburgh on Saturday, January 26th, at 1:00 P.M. To register, or to learn more, please contact the NFP Office at 518-483-0459 or email apietropaoli@dioogdensburg.org. 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. MARCH FOR LIFE: The annual March for Life starts on Sunday, January 20th at 1:30 at Blessed John XXIII Newman Center, 90 Broad Street, Plattsburgh and ends at St. John's Church, 20 Broad Street, Plattsburgh. Signs are provide. All are encouage to join in this peaceful, prayerful pro-life witness. The March is followed by a prayer service with guest speaker, Bishop Terry R. LaValley. Reception will follow in the lower church area. MARRIAGE TIP: What counts in making a happy marriage is not so much how compatible you are, but how you deal with incompatibility. How do your personalities or interests differ? What compromises have you worked out to deal with these differences? Which are still on the negotiating table? Find more Marriage Rx at www.foryourmarriage.org COMMUNION TO THE SICK: The Second Vatican Council,in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, speaks of the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of our spiritual life. This means the Holy Eucharist is the source from which all other blessings flow. Please advise Father Deno of homebound persons who would like to have Holy Communion brought to them at their KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS DINNER: The Plattsburgh Assembly of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus will present and all-you-can-eat Chicken and Biscuit Dinner on January 20, 2013 at Seton Academy in Plattsburgh. Service will start at 11:00 AM and will complete at 4:00 PM. This is all-you-can-eat for $8.00!! All proceeds will be used for charitable purposes. WHY DID JESUS ASK TO BE BAPTIZED? Neither John the Baptist nor Jesus invented baptism. It had been practiced for centuries among the Jews as a ritual equivalent of Confession. It was common for Jewish people to make a spiritual cleansing in a special pool called a MIKVEH--literally a "collection of water". This was said to remove spiritual impurity and sin. Men did this weekly on the eve of the Sabbath. Women did it monthly. Orthodox Jews still retain the rite. Jesus transformed this continual ritual into the one single, definitive act by which we begin our faith in the Sacrament of Baptism. BAPTISM SPONSORS: Sponsors for Baptism are to be at least 16 years of age, have received Holy Communion and Confirmation, and practice their Catholic faith. A baptized person who belongs to a non-Catholic church community may be admitted in the company of a Catholic sponsor, serving as a Christian witness.

Bulletin for the Week of January 6, 2013

LOOKING AHEAD 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 Feb 16-17: Food Shelf Weekend Mar 16-17: Food Shelf Weekend Apr 20-21: Food Shelf Weekend 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) www.osv.com (Our Sunday Visitor) 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. THANK YOU: Thank you for your generous gift in our Christmas collection. Like every North Country parish we forward 100% of the collection to the Diocese of Ogdensburg to fund pensions for retired priests. Pension needs for the future as well as obligations for the next year are being met thanks to your generous donation. EPIPHANY OF THE LORD: On this first Lord’s Day of the new year we come together in joy to celebrate the festival of the Epiphany of the Lord. Today is the high point of the Christmas season and one of the greatest days of the year. A shining star in the heavens proclaims the good news that Jesus Christ is the new-born Saviour. You will notice that the Bible readings overflow with superlatives. PRAYER OF BLESSING OF THE HOME AT EPIPHANY Lord our God, bless this household. May we be blessed with health, goodness of heart, gentleness, and the keeping of your law. We give thanks to you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen 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: As this year closes, reminisce about highlights from 2012 with your spouse and child(ren). What made them most happy, sad, angry, and afraid? Share your own feelings also. Is there anything either of you want to change in 2013? Find more Marriage Rx at www.foryourmarriage.org COMMUNION TO THE SICK: The Second Vatican Council,in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, speaks of the Holy Eucharist as the source and summit of our spiritual life. This means the Holy Eucharist is the source from which all other blessings flow. Please advise Father Deno of homebound persons who would like to have Holy Communion brought to them at their homes. CHRISTMAS SEASON: Christmas is one of the most important days of the Church year, second only to Easter itself. The liturgical season of Christmas begins with the vigil Masses on Christmas Eve and concludes this year on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord, January 13th. During this season, we celebrate the birth of Christ into our world and into our hearts, and reflect on the gift of salvation that is born with him…including the fact that he was born to die for us. The Nativity scene is a popular symbol of the season and a tradition in many Christian homes. Our secular and popular culture usually concludes the Christmas season on Christmas day. Christmas trees and decorations are usually continued until New Year’s Day. They are then removed. St. James and all Catholic Churches celebrate the entire Christmas Season. The manger nativity scene will be removed during the week after the Baptism of the Lord.