Bulletin for the Week of February 2, 2014

LOOKING AHEAD

Feb 1-2: Special Renovation Fund Collection

Feb 2, Mar 2, Apr 6, May 4:  Class for students preparing for Confirmation preparation, 6:00 PM, Parish Center

Feb 15-16:  Food Shelf Weekend

Mar 1-2: Special Renovation Fund Collection

Mar 5:  Ash Wednesday Masses at 8:30 and 5:30

Mar 15-16: Food Shelf Weekend

Apr 5-6: Special Renovation Fund Collection

Apr 19-20: Food Shelf Weekend

May 11: First Communion

RELIGIOUS WEB SITES   

www.usccb.org/nab/bible/index.shtml (Complete Bible)

www.wordonfire.org/ (Catholic videos)

Mission Intention for February: That the Church and society may respect the wisdom and experience of older people.

HEALING MINISTRY: Living Waters Healing Ministry Mass at St. Alexander’s Church, Morrisonville, First Thursday of every month at 6:30 PM.

THANK YOU: A heartfelt thank you goes to the Knights of Columbus for their generous donation of $2500 to Seton Academy.  A portion of this money will be used to replace some of the chairs in the cafeteria.  We are most grateful to the Knights for their support of Catholic education.  We pray for them, their families, and their intentions.  God bless the Knights of Columbus!

MARRIAGE TIP: Husbands and wives united in love are a great gift to the world! Consider those things that divide you and your spouse: old grudges or disagreements. Ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of unity. Find more Marriage Rx at www.foryourmarriage.org.

GLUTEN FREE HOSTS: If you are in need of a gluten free host, simply inform Fr. Deno before Mass, and he will make sure there is one available for you at Communion.

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS: Membership in the Knights of Columbus will be of  interest to you as a Catholic man if you are a Catholic who believes in

         Helping those in need

         Serving your parish

         Growing in your Catholic faith

         Want access to a top-rated Insurance protection

If you want more information or want to join contact Roman Miner at 293-7292.

STATEMENT OF GIVING FOR INCOME TAXES:  If you wish to receive a statement of your financial contributions to St. James Church for 2013, please indicate this on your Sunday offering envelope so that we can assure confidentiality.

THE SIGN OF THE CROSS:  For early Christians, the Sign of the Cross involved tracing small crosses on the forehead, on the lips and on the heart, as we do at Mass before the reading of the Gospel.  In the 3rd century,Tertullian noted that Christians made the Sign of the Cross regularly before entering or leaving their homes, eating, bathing, even before lighting lamps.  The Sign  of the Cross is made on Catholics at Baptism, at the Anointing of the Sick and countless times in between.  When you reverently bless yourself with the Sign of the Cross, you express belief in God the Father, in God the Son and in God the Holy Spirit from whom all blessings flow.  We can sanctify modern life with this ancient gesture.

CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK: Each year Catholics in the United States celebrate a week dedicated to learning more and appreciating Catholic Schools. Catholic Schools Week this year is January 26-February 1 on the theme: Catholic Schools: Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service.  Catholic schools provide a rigorous academic curriculum that integrates faith and knowledge. Catholic schools are places where students can encounter the living God in Jesus Christ. Currently the Diocese of Ogdensburg has 14 Catholic schools available to parents.  Two of these schools are available to parents and children in the Plattsburgh area. Seton Academy (825-7386) has grades PK-6 and Seton Catholic Central (561-2830) has grades 7-12.

        

LENT 2008

The spiritual time of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, February 6th.  Lent precedes and prepares for Easter. Lent offers us all a very special opportunity to grow in our relationship with God .  Lent provides us with an opportunity to reflect upon our patterns, to pray more deeply, experience sorrow for what we've done and failed to do, and to be generous to those in need.  St. James Parish offers you resources to assist you in Lent 2008. Taking some time to get ready for Lent will ensure that you aren't going to miss Ash Wednesday and the first week or two of Lent. 

“GIVING UP SOMETHING”  “What would help me grow in freedom?” That's the question to ask.  For many of us, the choice may not be to give something up, but to add something to our daily lives during Lent. We may commit ourselves to extra prayer time, to making the Stations of the Cross, or helping out when needed.  The whole desire we should have is to use these means to help us grow closer to our Lord and prepare ourselves to truly celebrate Easter. Pick up a copy of What Am I Doing for Lent This Year?  A Workbook that presents Lent as an opportunity for renewal (at entrance to the church)

PRAYING: Lent is the time to start new patterns of prayer. Perhaps I haven't been praying at all. This is a great time to choose to begin.  I may want to give myself some time alone to read the Bible readings for the day, and just talk with the Lord about those readings or about the stuff of the day. I may choose to go to Mass each day during Lent. I may choose to get to church on Sunday, just 15 minutes earlier, so I can reflect a bit. Lent may be a time I would want to choose to start to write down my day to day spiritual reflections.  Pick up a copy of the book : Sacred Space for Lent 2008- Daily Bible Readings and Reflections and The Bible and You - A guide to the Bible (at entrance to the church)

PRACTICING PENANCE: Penance is spiritual therapy for the healing I desire. The Lord always forgives us. Lent is a wonderful time to name what sinful, unhealthy, self-centered patterns need changing and to act against them by coming up with a strategy. Going to Confession is a way to start. All Catholics who have reached the age of reason must confess their serious sins in the Sacrament of Penance at least once a year.

FASTING: All Catholics between the ages of 18 and 59 are bound also to observe the Law of Fast on the following days:  Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.  Fasting, that is, eating less, involves limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals.  Lighter nourishment may be taken on two other occasions in the course of the day. It is also a means of uniting with millions in our world who have little or nothing to eat. A great help is to use Operation Rice Bowl - Helping Catholic Relief Services

ABSTINENCE:  All Catholics who have reached their 14th birthday are bound to abstain totally from meat on the following days:  Ash Wednesday, all Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday.  To abstain is to not eat meat.

EASTER DUTY:   Catholics must also receive Holy Communion at least once each year during the Easter season, which this year extends from February 10th, the First Sunday of  Lent, until Trinity Sunday, May 18th.

SPECIAL NOTE: The Memorial of St. Patrick (March 17) is not observed liturgically this year because it falls within Holy Week.  The Solemnity of St. Joseph has been transferred to Saturday, March 15th and the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord has been transferred to Monday, March 31st.