Immaculate Heart of MaryCatholic Church

January 26, 2020PO Box 130, 411 Ware St, Groom TX 79039

Phone & Fax: 806-248-7584 / Cell Phone: 806-316-4146Parish Email: immaculateheartgroom@gmail.com

Website: immaculateheartgroomtx.com

3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME"THE LORD IS MY LIGHT" (Ps 27:1)

"A people living in darkness has seen a great light." —Matthew 4:16

Jesus, in His merciful love, can't bear the thought of a world in darkness. He declares: "I have come to the world as its Light, to keep anyone who believes in Me from remaining in the dark" (Jn 12:46). Yet some prefer the darkness and hate the light (Jn 3:19-21). There is no bushel basket (Mt 5:15) or wall thick enough to block out the Light of the World. So the people who hated the Light tried to extinguish the Light. For three days, they were successful, and the Light was buried in a tomb. However, Jesus is risen from the dead! "The light shines on in darkness, a darkness that did not overcome it" (Jn 1:5). Now Jesus the Light shines through us, His disciples (see Mt 5:14). The people in darkness have seen a great light (Mt 4:16; Is 9:1). Many are attracted to the light, and stream toward it (see Is 2:2). Others prefer the deeds and lifestyle of darkness and will continue to attempt to extinguish the light, as if that were possible. Since we are now Jesus' lamps in the world, we must expect that His opponents will attempt to extinguish us in their futile attempts to darken the world. Eventually the only option for those who love darkness is to flee the light and find a place of permanent darkness. Some will detest the light so much they will beg the mountains and hills to cover them (see Hos 10:8; Lk 23:30; Rv 6:16). Repent of the futility of preferring darkness and opposing the light. Come to the Light, and join the victorious side (Jn 1:5).

Prayer: Father, I repent of anything that I am hiding from You. Shine Your light on any darkness in my life.

Parish Council ChairAltar Society President

DREBookkeeper

PastorFinance Council Chair

RCIAYouth Director

Bulletin

Arokia Raj SamalaRodney BohrTabitha EggemeyerKathleen Barkleystaci.kotara@gmail.com

Jason EugeaJoannie KlingNicole KuehlerSherri Wieberg

3RD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME"THE LORD IS MY LIGHT" (Ps 27:1)

"A people living in darkness has seen a great light." —Matthew 4:16

Jesus, in His merciful love, can't bear the thought of a world in darkness. He declares: "I have come to the world as its Light, to keep anyone who believes in Me from remaining in the dark" (Jn 12:46). Yet some prefer the darkness and hate the light (Jn 3:19-21). There is no bushel basket (Mt 5:15) or wall thick enough to block out the Light of the World. So the people who hated the Light tried to extinguish the Light. For three days, they were successful, and the Light was buried in a tomb. However, Jesus is risen from the dead! "The light shines on in darkness, a darkness that did not overcome it" (Jn 1:5). Now Jesus the Light shines through us, His disciples (see Mt 5:14). The people in darkness have seen a great light (Mt 4:16; Is 9:1). Many are attracted to the light, and stream toward it (see Is 2:2). Others prefer the deeds and lifestyle of darkness and will continue to attempt to extinguish the light, as if that were possible. Since we are now Jesus' lamps in the world, we must expect that His opponents will attempt to extinguish us in their futile attempts to darken the world. Eventually the only option for those who love darkness is to flee the light and find a place of permanent darkness. Some will detest the light so much they will beg the mountains and hills to cover them (see Hos 10:8; Lk 23:30; Rv 6:16). Repent of the futility of preferring darkness and opposing the light. Come to the Light, and join the victorious side (Jn 1:5).

Prayer: Father, I repent of anything that I am hiding from You. Shine Your light on any darkness in my life.

Mass Schedule

Information

Pray for Our Sick

Family Chalice Program

Saturday.................................5:30pmSunday...................................8:30am

Monday, Thursday, Friday..........7:30amWednesday..............................6:00pm

Confession: Saturday.........................4:30-5:15pmSunday...........................7:55-8:15am or by appointment

1st Wednesday Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament................7:00pm-10:00pm

Brandi Sustaire, John Detten, Emma Detten, Tammy Bivens, Celeste Connelly, Shamara Husemann, Bill Becker, Charleen Weller, Leonard Koetting, Alina Becker, Anna Marie Wink, Matthew Gary Britten, Doris Britten, Phillip Ollinger, Dee Martinez, Shane King, JoAnn Britten, Ann McNabb, Joe Homer, Kenny Babcock, Herminia Ollinger, George “Jiggs” Britten, Cobb Britten, Luke Acker, Doug Acker, Donnie Conrad, and Dick Ollinger.

January 26.............Mike & Marla BrittenFebruary 2...............Cobb & Kay BrittenFebruary 9.............Adela & Staci KotaraFebruary 16.......Nick Weinheimer FamilyFebruary 23........Clifton & Susan Britten

Marriage Preparation: Contact Father Raj at least six months in advance.

Baptism: Call the rectory for an appointment.

Communion: Anyone unable to come forward for communion, let Father Raj know before Mass. Those ill or homebound, please contact Father Raj to arrange for communion to be brought to your home.

Mass Intentions

Stewardship Reports

Church Cleaning for January

01/19/2020 Stewardship ReportIndividual $2,455Loose $ 127Children $ 11TOTAL $2,593

01/19/2020 Building FundIndividual $ 23,965Loose $ 78TOTAL $ 24,043

Neysa Friemel, Julie Friemel, Jessica Britten, Carolyn Brooks, Joannie Kling, Jan Britten, Tonda Torres, Laura Kuehler, Barbara Homer, Doris Homer, Kathleen Barkley, Adela Kotara, Staci Kotara, Melanie Hinson and Karen Brown

Saturday, January 25.................5:30pm Buddy Weller by Charleen Weller

Sunday, January 26...................8:30am For our Christian Mothers

Monday, January 27...................7:30am For Marcia and Donnie Conrad Intentions Wednesday, January 29..............6:00pm For Marcia and Donnie Conrad Intentions

Thursday, January 30.................7:30am For Marcia and Donnie Conrad Intentions

Friday, January 31.....................7:30am For Marcia and Donnie Conrad Intentions

Liturgical Ministers AnnouncementsNext weekend we will have the St. Blasé throat blessing at the end of Mass.

The TYM will be taking orders for Super Bowl Pizzas from now until January 29. Youth, please make sure to turn in orders by the 29th and help deliver at 2:30 on February 2nd.

February 5th is TYM Wednesday.February 9th, no TYM mass due to Youth going to mass the day before at Retreat.

Immaculate Heart of Mary will host the “Renewed” East Deanery Retreat on February 8th for Grades 7-12 from 9:30am-9pm. The cost is $25, please make plans to attend!

The Spring Fling is scheduled for Saturday, February 15th. Mark your calendars, details to follow!

UCA 2019-2020Quota..........$13,956Paid.............$10,420Balance........$ 3,536

Preparing the WayDiocesan Capital CampaignPledged.........$127,500Paid..............$ 63,500Balance.........$ 64,000

UCA 2020-2021 - will take place during Lent.

Birthdays & AnniversariesJanuary 25.......Bill Homer, Melanie Britten, Taylor Fields, and Taylor Dawn MaysJanuary 26...............Robbie Kuehler DolceJanuary 27............A: Pat & Connie BrittenJanuary 30............A: Mike & Marla BrittenJanuary 31....................Lori Connelly and Michael F Britten

Saturday, Jan 25, 2020 at 5:30pmServers: Phineas and KacieLector: Jason EugeaExtraor. Com. Ministers: Vanessa Eugea and Jason Eugea

Sunday, Jan 26, 2020 at 8:30amServers: Ali and BrockLector: Cliff BrittenExtraor. Com. Ministers: Michele Bohr, Susan Britten and Melanie K Britten

Saturday, Feb 1, 2020 at 5:30pmServers: Alex and TraceLector: Kay BrittenExtraor. Com. Ministers: Kevin Brown and John Connelly

Sunday, Feb 2, 2020 at 8:30amServers: Kate and GwenLector: Marcia ConradExtraor. Com. Ministers: Joannie Kling, Tabitha Eggemeyer and Sandie Hickey

Saturday, Feb 8, 2020 at 5:30pmServers: Stephen and NateLector: Ron KuehlerExtraor. Com. Ministers: John Connelly and Jan Britten

Sunday, Feb 9, 2020 at 8:30amServers: Damon and WesleyLector: Nick KuehlerExtraor. Com. Ministers: Nicole Kuehler, Barbara Homer and Marla Britten

Saturday, Feb 15, 2020 at 5:30pmServers: Phineas and KacieLector: Jason EugeaExtraor. Com. Ministers: Vanessa Eugea and Jan Britten

Sunday, Feb 16, 2020 at 8:30amServers: Ali and BrockLector: Cliff BrittenExtraor. Com. Ministers: Susan Britten, Michele Bohr and Melanie K Britten

History of the feast of the presentation of the Lord. Next Sunday we will celebrate this Feast. According to Jewish law, the firstborn male child belonged to God, and the parents had to "buy him back" on the 40th day after his birth, by offering a sacrifice of "a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons" (Luke 2:24) in the temple (thus the "presentation" of the child). On that same day, the mother would be ritually purified (thus the "purification"). Saint Mary and Saint Joseph kept this law, even though, since Saint Mary remained a virgin after the birth of Christ, she would not have had to go through ritual purification. In his gospel, Luke recounts the story (Luke 2:22-39). Originally, the feast was celebrated on February 14, the 40th day after Epiphany (January 6), because Christmas wasn't yet celebrated as its own feast, and so the Nativity, Epiphany, the Baptism of the Lord (Theophany), and the feast celebrating Christ's first miracle at the wedding in Cana were all celebrated on the same day. By the last quarter of the fourth century, however, the Church at Rome had begun to celebrate the Nativity on December 25, so the Feast of the Presentation was moved to February 2, 40 days later. When Christ was presented in the temple, "there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the consolation of Israel" (Luke 2:25) When Saint Mary and Saint Joseph brought Christ to the temple, Simeon embraced the Child and prayed the Canticle of Simeon: "Now thou dost dismiss thy servant, O Lord, according to thy word in peace; because my eyes have seen thy salvation, which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples: a light to the revelation of the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel" (Luke 2:29-32). Inspired the words of the canticle ("a light to the revelation of the Gentiles"), by the 11th century, the custom had developed in the West of blessing candles on the Feast of the Presentation. The candles were then lit, and a procession took place through the darkened church while the Canticle of Simeon was sung. Because of this, the feast also became known as Candlemas. While the procession and blessing of the candles is not often performed in the United States today, Candlemas is still an important feast in many European countries.

The origin of the Torah of the Old Testament: The name given to first five books of the Bible -- Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Deuteronomy and Numbers – is Torah in Hebrew, Pentateuch in Greek. The matter presented in these books was handed down from generation to generation orally until the ninth century BC. Since the Israelites had come into close contact with the Egyptians and other ancient groups, the oral traditions in Israel were influenced partly by the traditions of other people as well. Moses (1391–1271 BC), is considered the first to collect the traditions of Israel and to draft and amplify the God-given commandments and laws. But it was during the reign of Solomon (970-931 BC), that Israel became a big and powerful nation, with the new Temple of the Lord God in Jerusalem serving as the nation's religious center. King Solomon felt the need to collect all the religious traditions of Israel from the 12 tribes of Israel. He invited all tribal heads and those specialized in teaching those traditions to his royal palace and appointed scribes to take down in Hebrew language whatever had been traditionally handed down in their tribes. Along with tribal traditions of Israel, the result included the teachings given by Moses and later leaders. Since Moses, raised in Pharaoh's court as a Prince, was literate, he might have kept some written documents of the laws and commandments received from God. All these written documents formed the nucleus from which the Torah developed in the later centuries. Finally, a few centuries after Solomon, a group of editors assembled all religious beliefs and traditions of Israel previously collected during the reign of Solomon, put them in a definite order, and made the final edition of the five books of the Torah. They were later copied and recopied on processed leather and copper sheets. During Jesus’ time, leather scrolls containing the Torah and prophetic writings were available in all Jewish synagogues.

Next weekend we will have the St. Blasé throat blessing at the end of Mass.

The TYM will be taking orders for Super Bowl Pizzas from now until January 29. Youth, please make sure to turn in orders by the 29th and help deliver at 2:30 on February 2nd.

February 5th is TYM Wednesday.February 9th, no TYM mass due to Youth going to mass the day before at Retreat.

Immaculate Heart of Mary will host the “Renewed” East Deanery Retreat on February 8th for Grades 7-12 from 9:30am-9pm. The cost is $25, please make plans to attend!

The Spring Fling is scheduled for Saturday, February 15th. Mark your calendars, details to follow!

UCA 2019-2020Quota..........$13,956Paid.............$10,420Balance........$ 3,536

Preparing the WayDiocesan Capital CampaignPledged.........$127,500Paid..............$ 63,500Balance.........$ 64,000

UCA 2020-2021 - will take place during Lent.