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Epiphany of the Lord
January 8,
2006
They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the Child with Mary, His mother. They prostrated themselves and did Him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.
- Mt 2:10-11
The three wise men that came from the East to pay homage to the infant Jesus brought Him rich gifts of
gold, frankincense, and myrrh as part of their worship.
What gifts have I brought to this celebration to offer the newborn Savior?
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Prayer List
PARISHIONERS
Week 1: Rose Oldland, Ursula Showes
Week 3: Henry White, Mintz Family
Week 4: Donald Croghan, Betty White, Rene Mendenilla, Myrtis Cline
FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Week 1: Virginia Upperman, Connie Harris,
Archbishop Marsinkus, Michael Rhoden, Phil Grant, Rose
Oldland
Week 3: William Mitchell
Week 4: Thomas Kane, Cross Family
TROOPS IN IRAQ
2nd Lt Albert Elam, III; Patrick O’Bryant, US Army; PFC Kori Arsenault, Natl Guard; Capt Marc S.
LLacuna, USAF; Lt Col Stephen Wilson, USMC
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Current Week's Mass Schedule
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Next weekend there will be a second collection for the
Black and Indian Missions. Evangelization, the proclaiming of the Gospel, is a priority in the Catholic Church. For over ten decades, without exception, missionaries, priests, sisters, catechists, and devoted faithful have been working side by side in parishes and missions assisting the Church among the African American and Native American people. By contributing to this collection, Catholics have a real opportunity to actively participate in evangelization programs. Please be generous.
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Monday, January 9th |
Baptism
of the Lord |
| 8:30 a.m. - Our
Lady's Chapel |
Intentions
of Wayne Jordan |
| Tuesday,
January 10th |
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| 8:30 a.m. - Our
Lady's Chapel |
Soul of
Hilton Stonier |
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Wednesday, January 11th |
--- |
| 8:30 a.m. - Our
Lady's Chapel |
Intention
s of Hanus Family |
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Thursday, January 12th |
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The aftermath of the Epiphany
Once again, we have had a
moment to think about the journey made long ago by men of faith. They had followed a star and wondered where it would lead. Unlike the Magi, we follow the Lord Jesus and we understand where the journey leads us—union with our Father in heaven. The wise men brought gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, for our part we offer our time, talent and treasure. The gifts of old and of our day are transformed by the mystery of grace. The kings invite us to emulate their trust in the leading of God in our lives.
Father Gary leaves today to visit his homeland after being gone for 11 years. He will notice many changes after so long an absence. He will be celebrating a Mass of Thanksgiving in his home parish and will visit family and friends. I am certain there will be other activities he
will share upon his return. Please remember him in your
prayers as he makes his journey.
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| 8:30 a.m. - Our
Lady's Chapel |
Soul of
Sara Hilario |
| 7:30
p.m. - Our
Lady's Chapel |
Intention of
Catherine Tippett |
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Friday, January 13th |
The
Hilary |
| 8:30 a.m. - Our Lady's Chapel |
Intention of
Eric Randal |
| Saturday,
January 14th |
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| 8:30 a.m. - Our Lady's Chapel |
Intention of
Lawrence Basso |
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Next Weekend's Mass Schedule |
| Saturday,
January 14th |
Vigil
Mass |
| 5:00 p.m. - Main Church |
Soul of
Jessie J. Mitchell |
| Sunday,
January 15th |
Second
Sunday in Ordinary Time |
| 8:30 a.m. - Our Lady's Chapel |
Soul of
Patricia Estrellita Mercado |
| 9:30 a.m. - Main Church |
Soul of
Christine Mondi |
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12:00 p.m. - Main Church |
Intentions of Parishioners of St. Mary’s |
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Note: *Regular Mass hours are Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. Summer hours (June thru Labor Day) are Saturday at 5 p.m., Sunday at 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 p.m.
The names listed next to a specific Mass indicate an act of love for the living or the deceased member of a family or a friend. If you would like to schedule a Mass for a specific date/intention, please
contact Susan Angelini at the parish office. Mass intentions are filled on a first come/first serve basis. Customary offerings are as follows: Mass – $10; flowers: main church – $50, chapel – $35; Sacristy candle – $10/week; tree memorial including a plaque – $500.
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SCHOOL NEWS
Principal: Mr. Patrick Hanus
Vice Principal: Mrs. Kathleen Pfaff
(301) 292-2522
School Hours: 8:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Early Dismissal: 12:15 p.m.
Before Care: 6:45 a.m. – 7:45 a.m.
After Care: 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
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To Parents of Second Graders: Relevant Dates for
First Penance/First Communion Program:
Monday, January 9th: Parent Meeting for First Penance
(7:30–9:00 p.m.) in the Main Church.
Saturday, February 4th: Sacrament of Penance followed by Confessions (10:00 a.m.) in the Main Church.
Monday, April 3rd: Parent’s meeting for First Communion (7:30–9:00 p.m.) in the Main Church.
Saturday, May 6th: Retreat and Rehearsal for First Communion Students and Parents (8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.) in the parish hall.
Sunday, May 7th: Sacrament of the Eucharist (2:00 p.m.) in the Main Church.
| Help Wanted: Hard Working/Reliable Custodian for St. Mary’s School. Part-time position may lead to full-time in the future. The primary responsibility will be to clean school facilities including restrooms. If interested, please contact Cathy Wall at (301) 292-2522. |
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PARISH NEWS
Office Hours: 8:00 a.m. to Noon and 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Bulletin articles must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on
Friday for publication two weekends later. Bulletin inserts must be in the parish office on the Tuesday
prior to the weekend that the insert will be used. Inserts and articles for the bulletin must be approved
by the pastor and arrangements for the organization to stuff the bulletin with the secretary.
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 New parishioners should fill out a registration form found in either the gathering place of the main church or at the parish office.
If you have a new address, phone number, e-mail address or a new member of your family, please contact Susan at (301) 292-0527 or
parish@stmaryspiscataway.org.
Thank you!
 NOTE:
Eucharistic Adoration and evening events will not be held when St. Mary’s School is closed for inclement weather such as snow, freezing rain, or ice, as announced on the radio or television. If there is a delay in opening the school, the Blessed Sacrament will be exposed to correspond with the opening of school.
I am trying to locate the following families who may have purchased cemetery plots at St. Mary’s in Piscataway:
(Updated 1/1/06)
Mr. William Aubrey, Jr.
Mr. & Mrs. Roberto Correa
Mr. Edward Curtis; Kessell & Katherine Sisk
Mr. & Mrs. Owen Griffin (Sharon)
Mr. & Mrs. James Hutchinson
Mr. & Mrs. Henry Scoggins (Mary)
Mr. John S. Washington
| WHEN CALLING THE OFFICE, PLEASE NOTE: Father Gary’s day off is normally on Monday, and Father David’s day off is normally on Wednesday. |
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SODALITY
Mrs. Mary Parker (301) 292-6656
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 Sodality is a group of Catholic women willing to work together in service of Christ’s Church and the world in every area of life: family, work, professional, civil and ecclesial. Sodality meets
every 1st Sunday of the month after the 9:30 a.m. Mass in the school hall. For further information, please contact Mary Parker at (301) 292-6656 or Vicki Burton at (301) 292-9012.
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Sodality will be selling raffle tickets to benefit the
James Cardinal Hickey Scholarship Fund after all Masses
through Sunday, February 26th. The 1st place prize will be $500, 2nd place $300, and three 3rd place prizes at $100 each. One half of the proceeds go to support St. Mary’s School. The other half goes to the Sodality Union of the Archdiocese of Washington to support the Mass for shut-ins. Tickets are $2 per book. For further information, please call Dorothy Jones at (301) 372-8922.
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“The ‘healing arts’ are moving beyond the field of healing and into an ethical minefield, where technical knowledge can be used as much to demean life as to serve it.” Cardinal William H. Keeler, (Respect Life statement, 10/2/05).
Note: Free CD on Redemptive Suffering at Mass on Saturday, January 7th and Sunday, January 8th.
Baby Bottle Campaign for the Forestville Pregnancy Center will start the weekend of
January 14th and 15th.
The Novena for Life begins the weekend of January 21st and January 22nd.
Family Night for Life will be held at St. Mary’s on Sunday, January 22nd starting with Mass at 5:30 p.m. in the Main Church. The Divine Chaplet will follow at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will be held in the Hall to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Society at 7:00 p.m. and Adoration at 8:00 p.m. until midnight in Our Lady’s Chapel.
Rally for Life and Youth Mass will be held on Monday, January 23rd at the MCI Center. Buses will depart from St. Mary’s at 7:00 a.m. The Rally for Life will begin at 9:00 a.m. at the MCI Center. Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal McCarrick at 10:00 a.m. and will be followed by lunch at 12:00 p.m. Buses will return to St. Mary’s at 4:00 p.m.
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MUSIC MINISTRY
Music Director: Dr. Mickey Terry
(202) 581-6304
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 Want to join St. Mary’s Contemporary or Traditional Choir? The Traditional choir practice is on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.; the Contemporary choir, on Sunday at 9:00 a.m., both in the Main Church. Please call Dr. Mickey Terry at (202) 581-6304 if you are interested in joining. Come and share your talents while worshiping Him!
Upcoming Youth Group Events:
Monday, January 23rd - Right to Life (see bulletin)
Saturday, January 28th - “Teen Clean”—Spend your afternoon scrubbing, washing and polishing the parish hall (see website for details)
youthgroup@stmaryspiscataway.org
The Catholic Standard is a wonderful source of news and information about our shared faith. Don’t miss the opportunity to support your parish by subscribing today! A one-year subscription is regularly $35, now on sale for $22. Please send a check payable to Catholic Standard, P.O. Box 98071, Washington, D.C. 20077-7078.
 The Maryland State Council of the Knights of Columbus awards several four-year college and Catholic high school scholarships to the sons and daughters of the Knights of Columbus and to Catholic students. The Scholarship committee must receive all applications no later than March 1, 2006. For scholarship information or applications go to the Knights of Columbus web site at:
www.kofc-md.org/pages/committees/scholarship/scholar.htm
or write to Maryland State Council, Knights of Columbus, 10815 Stang Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117-4607.
The 2006 Archdiocese of Washington Liturgy will celebrate Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
This event is sponsored by the Office of Black Catholics and will be held at Our Lady of Mercy parish at 9200 Kentsdale Drive in Potomac MD on
Saturday, January 14th. The celebration will include choral prelude at 4:00 p.m. conducted by several of the Archdiocese parish music ministries and Mass at 5:00 p.m. For further information please call the Office of Black Catholics at (301) 853-7671.
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
Director of Religious Education: Bill Keimig
(301) 292-0527 Ext. #104
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 Book Discussion Group
meets every Sunday morning 10:45–11:45 a.m. in the faculty lounge or behind the school depending on the weather.
Come for good fellowship, donuts and hot drinks!
St. Mary’s Parish School of Religion (PSR) is held every Sunday from 10:45–11:50 a.m. in our school. Children can still register for PSR; fees are $85 for one student; $105 for two students or $120 for three or more students.
Baptismal Classes for parents wishing to have their child baptized will be on the
4th Sunday of the month after the 12:00 p.m. Mass. Please contact Bill Keimig if you would like to attend or for further information.
Catholics Coming Home is an apostolate for those considering returning to their Catholic faith, needing help with an annulment, a divorce situation, or just wanting to talk about their struggles with the Church. We will meet on
Monday evenings from 7:30–9:00 p.m. (except major holidays) in the school library. New participants are welcome at any session.
Mom’s Fellowship and Prayer Group will meet at 2312 Floral Park Road on
Tuesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. for playtime and for prayer at 11:00 a.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel. Contact person: Heather Keimig (301) 203-9293.
Bible Sharing on the Book of Romans with Deacon George Ames will meet on
Wednesday evenings from 7:00–8:30 p.m. in the conference room of the parish office
through May 17th. Contact person: Deacon Ames (301) 292-0527 Ext. 105 or
Gbamesjr@cs.com.
 Living in the Spirit:
St. Mary’s Catholic Charismatic Renewal (CCR) prayer group meets weekly on
Thursday nights from 7:30–9:30 p.m. at 1305 Christopher Lane in Ft. Washington. Join us for singing, strong fellowship and new friendships! Please call Bob Ryan at (301) 203-8203 for directions.
 Cenacle Prayer Group meets
Friday evenings (except for the 1st Friday of the month) from 8:00–9:00 p.m. in Our Lady’s Chapel to pray for our priests and parish families. Children of all ages are welcome! Contact person: Joan Yates (301) 283-2206
 ARISE-Women of Prayer will meet every 2nd Saturday of the month from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady’s Chapel. Find out how much your life needs prayer and great fellowship. Receive encouragement as we seek to follow Mary’s example, and allow Christ to change the world through us! Contact person: Marti O’Neill (301) 609-6032.
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Sodality will be selling raffle tickets to benefit the James Cardinal Hickey Scholarship Fund after all Masses from
Sunday, December 11th through Sunday, February 26th. The 1st place prize will be $500, 2nd place $300, and three 3rd place prizes at $100 each. One half of the proceeds go to support St. Mary’s School. The other half goes to the Sodality Union of the Archdiocese of Washington to support the Mass for shut-ins.
Tickets are $2 per book. For further information, please call Dorothy Jones at (301) 372-8922.
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ADORATION
Mrs. Joan Yates (301) 283-2206
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Can YOU watch for just one hour?
Adorers and visitors are welcome to attend any hour of adoration.
Our hours of greatest need are: Tuesday 4:00–5:00 p.m., 5:00–6:00 p.m.; Wednesday 6:00–7:00 a.m. and Thursday, 6:00–7:00 p.m. We are also in need of substitutes, who could come anytime, sometimes on short notice. Please contact Joan Yates at (301) 283-2206 if you have questions or would like to be an adorer.
NOTE: There is an hour of adoration the first Friday of every month prior to the evening Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel.
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HOLY NAME SOCIETY
Mr. Frank Kane
(301) 292-1409
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 The Holy Name Society is a group of Catholic men that promote reverence for the name of God and sanctification of members, supports the clergy and works for the good of the Parish. Come and join us
every 1st Tuesday of the month from 7:30–9:00 p.m. in the parish office conference room for good fellowship for the betterment of the larger church community. Please contact Frank Kane at (301) 292-1409 to join
Holy Name or for further information.
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Men’s Retreat
“Come aside and rest awhile,”–Mk 6:30, a bible verse prominent on a bumper sticker, is available at the Loyola Retreat House in Faulkner, MD. We all need to rest awhile and take time out from our busy schedules to reflect on our relationship with Jesus and revitalize our mind and body. The Loyola Retreat House offers the perfect setting for such an activity.
I am the St. Mary’s retreat captain and have been attending this retreat for the past seven years. I really look forward to the end of January each year. First of all, you could not ask for a better natural setting to experience God’s beauty. The retreat house is located on the edge of a cliff, surrounded by woods, and overlooking the Potomac River. The staff at Loyola is wonderful and always has a great weekend planned. My philosophy concerning this retreat is that the staff provides you the tools to build a stronger relationship with Jesus, and then you can decide on what tools to use to build and strengthen that bond.
The weekend (Friday, January 27th thru Sunday, January 29th) starts with an opportunity to participate in the sacrament of Reconciliation before Mass, scheduled for 6:00 pm. The signature Crab Cake dinner is served around 7:30 p.m. One comment about the cuisine at Loyola—if you go home hungry—it is your own fault! Activities throughout the weekend include conferences, morning prayer, rosary walk, faith sharing, healing Mass, Eucharistic Adoration, and appointments with the priests for spiritual direction and guidance. Additionally, the schedule allows time for reflection, hiking in the woods, listening to spiritual tapes, sitting by the fire, or reading. The weekend really allows me to slow down and reflect on the past year and set spiritual goals for the upcoming year. I feel an exceptional closeness to Jesus, and I do not want the weekend to end. I have asked the staff if they could bottle this feeling and closeness that I have with Christ so I can take it with me. The late Father Miles
said to me, “If we bottled that feeling for people to take with them, we would be out of business.”
He also informed me that Loyola offers retreats year-round. I would like to invite each man of the parish to
pray and consider joining us for this year’s retreat.
Chuck Johnson
This year’s theme is Praying from St. John’s Gospel, “Life, Light, Love and the Way.” The cost for the retreat is $160.00, with an $85.00 deposit due at registration. If anyone would like to attend and is experiencing financial challenges, please see Father David. No one is ever turned away from Loyola. You may register at
www.loyolaretreat.org, or email
reservations@loyolaretreat.org. Please contact Maria Colonna at (301) 392-0819 or Chuck Johnson at (301) 758-7278 for further information.
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