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All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him. For he shall rescue the poor man when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save.We are so familiar with the persons of the scripture today, a devious king, star-gazing pilgrims, a baby and His mother. We know the gifts, the beckoning star, and the informative dream. We proclaim Jesus as the savior of all humankind. As we reflect upon the words of the psalm we discover the mission of the Christ and hear the echo of the mission of Pope Francis. In his teaching in the Joy of the Gospel and in proclaiming the jubilee year of mercy, we are caught up with a special concern for those in great need. As the Holy Father and psalmist speak of the poor, we not only consider the economically downtrodden, but those who are poor because they lack hope and direction, who are not able to find a place for Christ in their lives. As the magi went seeking and discovered the One they sought, may we begin this new year with a concern for those in need and be the source of strength and support for them. The Sunday Good News The Epiphany of Our Lord The Church of Saint John Bosco January 3, 2016 THIS WEEK & IN THE WEEKS AHEAD… Resilient Heart …..January 5, 2016, 6:30 PM (Snow Date January 12) Liturgy Committee Meeting……..…….Wednesday, January 6, 6:30 PM Outdoor Nativity Take-down………..…….Saturday, January 9, 9:00 AM Christmas Decoration Take-down.…….Sunday, January 10, 12:30 PM STJB Book Club …..………….………….......................Sunday, January 10, 12:30 PM Walking in Hope, Dementia Caregivers Support……..…Wed., January 13, 6:30 PM ARISE Sign-Up Weekend, Season II ……………………………….……….January 16 - 17 Pastoral Council Meeting……………………………….……Monday, January 18, 6:30 PM Confirmation Class ……………………….…….….….Sunday, January 24, 6:00-7:30 PM Finance Advisory Council Meeting….....Tues., Jan. 26, 6:00-7:30 All Purpose Rm. Network Meetings for DRE/CRE & Youth Ministry Leaders ....January 28, 6:30 PM ARISE Group Leader Training ……………….………………Friday, January 29, 6:30 PM Confirmation Retreat ………….………….. Saturday, February 6, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM ……………………………………………………………………...Mass at 4:00 PM with Families Week 1 of ARISE, Season 2 ……………………..…..Week beginning February 7, 2016 First Communion Retreat…………………….…. Saturday, March 12, 8:00 AM to Noon Confirmation Rehearsal ………………………...Palm Sunday, March 20, 2:00-4:00 PM Confirmation …………………...…………………...………..Sunday, April 3, 2016, 4:00 PM BLESSING OF A HOME AT EPIPHANY Leader: Peace be to this house All: And to all who live here. Leader: Bless, O Lord, this household and family, and allow all of us who live in this home to find in it a shelter of peace and health. Inspire each of us to develop our individual talents and to contribute wisdom and good works for the benefit of the whole family. Make our house a haven for us all, and a place of warmth and caring for all our friends who come to visit us. Enlighten us with the brilliance of your Epiphany star, so that, as we go into the world, we might clearly see our way to You and discover You in our work and play. This we ask to your glory and in the power of your kingship. All: For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory now and forever. Amen. Then, bless the house with the sign of the cross. After the blessing, the initials of the Magi (Traditional Names: Caspar, Melchior , and Balthazar) are written with chalk over the main doorway of the house, Like this: 20 + C + M + B + 16 HIS WORD TODAY BY Rev. William J. Reilly HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2016 I wish to extend to all our parishioners and friends of Saint John Bosco Parish a blessed and Holy New Year. Many thanks for all your gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure in 2015. May the New Year before us be filled with all of Gods choicest blessings for you and your family. ~ Father Ric

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Page 1: The Sunday Good News - stjohnboscochurch.orgstjohnboscochurch.org/about/documents/Epiphanyo... · BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES We extend our prayerful best wishes and congratulations to

“All kings shall pay him homage, all nations shall serve him. For he shall rescue the poor man when he cries out, and the afflicted when he has no one to help him. He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor; the lives of the poor he shall save.”

We are so familiar with the persons of the scripture today, a devious king, star-gazing pilgrims, a baby and His mother. We know the gifts, the beckoning star, and the informative dream. We proclaim Jesus as the savior of all humankind.

As we reflect upon the words of the psalm we discover the mission of the Christ and hear the echo of the mission of Pope Francis. In his teaching in the Joy of the Gospel and in proclaiming the jubilee year of mercy, we are caught up with a special concern for those in great need. As the Holy Father and psalmist speak of the poor, we not only consider the economically downtrodden, but those who are poor because they lack hope and direction, who are not able to find a place for Christ in their lives.

As the magi went seeking and discovered the One they sought, may we begin this new year with a concern for those in need and be the source of strength and support for them.

The Sunday Good News The Epiphany of Our Lord The Church of Saint John Bosco January 3, 2016

THIS WEEK & IN THE WEEKS AHEAD…

Resilient Heart …..January 5, 2016, 6:30 PM (Snow Date January 12)

Liturgy Committee Meeting……..…….Wednesday, January 6, 6:30 PM

Outdoor Nativity Take-down………..…….Saturday, January 9, 9:00 AM

Christmas Decoration Take-down.…….Sunday, January 10, 12:30 PM

STJB Book Club …..………….………….......................Sunday, January 10, 12:30 PM

Walking in Hope, Dementia Caregivers Support……..…Wed., January 13, 6:30 PM

ARISE Sign-Up Weekend, Season II ……………………………….……….January 16 - 17

Pastoral Council Meeting……………………………….……Monday, January 18, 6:30 PM

Confirmation Class ……………………….…….….….Sunday, January 24, 6:00-7:30 PM

Finance Advisory Council Meeting….....Tues., Jan. 26, 6:00-7:30 All Purpose Rm.

Network Meetings for DRE/CRE & Youth Ministry Leaders ....January 28, 6:30 PM

ARISE Group Leader Training ……………….………………Friday, January 29, 6:30 PM

Confirmation Retreat ………….………….. Saturday, February 6, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

……………………………………………………………………...Mass at 4:00 PM with Families

Week 1 of ARISE, Season 2 ……………………..…..Week beginning February 7, 2016

First Communion Retreat…………………….…. Saturday, March 12, 8:00 AM to Noon

Confirmation Rehearsal ………………………...Palm Sunday, March 20, 2:00-4:00 PM

Confirmation …………………...…………………...………..Sunday, April 3, 2016, 4:00 PM

BLESSING OF A HOME AT EPIPHANY

Leader: Peace be to this house

All: And to all who live here.

Leader: Bless, O Lord, this household and family,

and allow all of us who live in this home to find in it a shelter of peace and health.

Inspire each of us to develop our individual talents

and to contribute wisdom and good works

for the benefit of the whole family.

Make our house a haven for us all, and a place of warmth and caring

for all our friends who come to visit us. Enlighten us with the brilliance

of your Epiphany star, so that, as we go into the world,

we might clearly see our way to You and discover You in our work and play.

This we ask to your glory and in the power of your kingship.

All: For yours is the kingdom and the power

and the glory now and forever. Amen.

Then, bless the house with the sign of the cross.

After the blessing, the initials of the Magi (Traditional Names: Caspar,

Melchior, and Balthazar) are written with chalk

over the main doorway of the house, Like this: 20 + C + M + B + 16

HIS WORD TODAY BY Rev. William J. Reilly

HAPPY NEW YEAR – 2016 I wish to extend to all our parishioners and friends of Saint John Bosco Parish a blessed and Holy New Year. Many thanks for all your gifts of Time, Talent and Treasure in 2015. May the New Year before us be filled with all of God’s choicest blessings for you and your family. ~ Father Ric

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PAGE 2 The Sunday Good News

2015 Tax Statement Request

NAME: ___________________________________

ENVELOPE #: ___________________________

ADDRESS: _______________________________

EMAIL: ___________________________________

Clip and bring to the parish office or email to

[email protected] and we’ll send your statement!

SUNDAY STEWARDS COLLECTION TOTALS from Dec. 19/20 through Jan. 2/3 will be included in the Jan. 10 edition of the bulletin. Because of our printer’s Christmas and New Year’s holiday schedule, it is necessary for us to submit this content far in advance of the actual published date. Thank you for your understanding!

Faith Formation Corner

There will be no Faith Formation or CLOW on January 3. Faith Formation and CLOW will resume on January 10th.

Students in 6th - 12th grade are always welcome to stop by the Faith Formation office to sign up for any upcoming service opportunities. These opportunities are announced in class, and are also posted on the Confirmation and Youth Ministry pages of the parish website, www.stjohnboscochurch.org.

Confirmation Class will meet on January 24 from 6:00-7:30 PM in the Gym. All students must attend, and should bring Decision Point books and red folders to class. Saint projects are due at this time. Information about the Saint projects was included in the November and December CNotes newsletters distributed at Confirmation Class. If you have any questions about this project, please contact the Faith Formation Office.

A Network Meeting for DRE/CRE and Youth Ministry Leaders will be held at Saint John Bosco Parish on January 28, 2016, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM.

RESILIENT HEART—2016 Spiritual & Emotional Self-help and

Support in Navigating our Mid-life/Long-life TRANSITIONS

Join us in the Parish All-Purpose Meeting Room Tuesday, January 5, from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. We’ll explore the topic: Giving Direction to our Transitions, Understanding the Connection to our Health. The theme of TRANSITIONS offers a larger meaning to our often unspoken life questions: Why is this happening to me? Why now? Please reserve your space by calling Sister Marilyn at (570) 788-1997, ext. 5.

DA I L Y REA DI N GS

Sunday Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12

Monday 1 Jn 3:22 - 4:6; Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

Tuesday 1 Jn 4:7-10; Mk 6:34-44

Wednesday 1 Jn 4:11-18; Mk 6:45-52

Thursday 1 Jn 4:19—5:4; Lk 4:14-22a

Friday 1 Jn 5:5-13; Lk 5:12-16

Saturday 1 Jn 5:14-21; Jn 3:22-30

WALKING in HOPE MINISTRY

~ Support for Dementia

Caregivers ~

Anyone with an interest is invited to join an ongoing

conversation as to the needs of and support for present caregivers. Register for 2016 sessions by calling Sister Marilyn to assure seating and handouts, (570) 788-1997, ext. 5. All are welcome ~ 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM in Saint John Bosco’s All-Purpose Meeting Room. Once a month gatherings: January 13, February 17, March 9, April 13, May 11, and June 8.

STJB BOOK CLUB St. John Bosco Book Club will meet on Sunday, January 10, 2016, at 12:30 PM at Tom’s Kitchen to discuss Marcus Zusak’s The Book Thief. Come join us!

Jubilee Year of Mercy 2016

Parish Prayer Exchange Mercy Received/Mercy Given

Pass It Forward On Epiphany weekend, January 2/3, we will again be invited to join in a Parish Prayer Exchange. In 2015, five hundred parishioners prayed for another’s intention as a way to build and strengthen our community bonding. This year Pope Francis calls us as Church to a Year of Mercy as “the very foundation of the Church’s life. All of her pastoral activity should be caught up in the tenderness she makes present…” Think of “Mercy” as God’s kindness, tenderness living through us. As we stand on the threshold of 2016, our first act of kindness might be to fellow parishioners, with a promise of daily prayer for their intention and vice versa. Your prayer slip will be collected as a second collection, and you will receive another’s prayer slip as you leave Mass. “Simple acts of kindness can be a powerful global force for potential change.”

IN PRAYERFUL REMEMBRANCE

Your prayers are requested for RYANNE JADE CARA, the daughter of Matthew & Vanessa Cara who recently died unexpectedly. May their family find strength during this difficult time through our prayerful support and our belief that those who have died with Christ live with Him. May her spirit remain in all who knew and loved her.

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PAGE 3

Saturday, 4:00 PM January 2 The Epiphany of Our Lord John and Christopher Smulligan By Parents

Sunday, 7:30 AM January 3 The Epiphany of Our Lord Mr. and Mrs. John Yurko By Dr. and Mrs. George Yurko

Sunday, 9:00 AM January 3 The Epiphany of Our Lord Living & Deceased Members of St. John Bosco Parish

Sunday, 11:30 AM January 3 The Epiphany of Our Lord Ed and Mary Stanek By A. & E. Mahasky

Monday, 8:00 AM January 4 Robert Wallace By Mary Nora Wallace

Tuesday, 8:00 AM January 5 Tom Pensock By Dorothy S. Olson

Wednesday, 8:00 AM January 6 Frances Lynch By John & Terry Donachie

Thursday, 8:00 AM January 7 John Owens By Molendini Family

Friday, 8:00 AM January 8 Special Intention By Pat & Patty Raico

Saturday, 4:00 PM January 9 The Baptism of the Lord Geraldine Shepperson By Janet & John George

Sunday, 7:30 AM January 10 The Baptism of the Lord Mr. and Mrs. Richard Zablocki By Dr. and Mrs. George Yurko

Sunday, 9:00 AM January 10 The Baptism of the Lord Catherine Carrelli By Janet Carrelli

Sunday, 11:30 AM January 10 The Baptism of the Lord Living & Deceased Members of St. John Bosco Parish

The Sunday Good News

LOVE IS OUR MISSION

. . . Our Parish Family Fully Alive

WE REMEMBER

ARISE Together in Christ Season 2 ~ Lent 2016

Join a Small Faith Sharing Group Sign-up Weekend: January 16 – 17, 2016

ECUMENICAL CELEBRATION OF GOD’S WORD CATHEDRAL OF SAINT PETER, SCRANTON

The Diocese of Scranton will again participate in the worldwide Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, which is celebrated each year in January. The Diocese of Scranton will host an Ecumenical Celebration of God’s Word on Monday, January 25, 2016, at 12:10 PM in the Cathedral of Saint Peter, Scranton. All are welcome to attend. In addition, CTV: Catholic Television will broadcast the service live. The Most Reverend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D., J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton, will preside, and Bishop Jeremiah Park of the Susquehanna Conference, Methodist Church will deliver the homily. Clergy and representatives from various Christian traditions and ecumenical agencies will be present. Liturgical music will be provided by All Saints Academy, Scranton.

GREY DOG RAFFLE YOU HAVE TO BE IN IT TO WIN IT!!!

Tickets for the Grey Dog Raffle are on sale in the Parish Office. $25,000 in prizes will be awarded on Super Bowl Sunday, February 7, 2016.

BELATED BIRTHDAY WISHES We extend our prayerful best wishes and congratulations to LORRAINE RADICE, a faithful parishioner and daily Mass participant, on her recent 85th birthday. May the Lord continue to bless you and grant you health and happiness.

BIRTHDAY WISHES We extend prayerful best wishes and congratulations to MICHAEL KELLY, a faithful and longtime parishioner of Saint John Bosco Parish, who will celebrate his 100th Anniversary of Birth on Saturday, January 23. We would like to honor him with a birthday card shower. If you would like to send him a birthday greeting, contact the parish office for his address. May the Lord continue to bless him with good health for many years to come. I believe that he is one of the oldest parishioners of our parish.

TAKING DOWN DECORATIONS The Outdoor Nativity will be taken down Saturday, January 9, at 9:00 AM. Indoor Decorations will be taken down Sunday, January 10, at 12:30 PM. Men, women, high school and college students are welcome to volunteer. Please lend a helping hand!

MARIAN HIGH SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE 2016 The 25th Annual Open House program for prospective students (7th & 8th grades) and their parents will be held on Sunday, January 31, at Marian High School. “Catholic Schools: ‘Communities of Faith, Knowledge and Service’” is the 2016 theme. The program begins at 1:00 PM with registration, tours, discussions, booth displays and door prizes. The program concludes at 3:00 PM with a drawing of $500 toward tuition for the 2016–2017 or 2017–2018 school year. (Must be present to win.) Anyone needing information, please call the Development Office at (570) 467-0641.

TABERNACLE CANDLE The Tabernacle Candle burns this week in memory of Nancy Owens by the George Family.

THANK YOU! Special thanks to James Wolk for donating the beautiful 15-foot fresh-cut Christmas tree for our church.

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PAGE 4 The Sunday Good News

The PASTOR’S PAGE

From the Pastor’s Laptop . . .

January 2-3, 2016

Dear Parishioners and Friends,

This weekend marks the high point of the Christmas Season, the Solemnity of the Epiphany (manifestation), commonly referred to as “Three Kings.” This feast reminds us that Jesus was born as Messiah and Lord for all people. The story of these unique visitors from the East is only found in Matthew’s Gospel, Chapter 2, verses 1-12. Depending on the translation they are referred to as Magi, Kings, or Wise Men. Although the Scripture doesn’t give us their names or the number of visitors, tradition assigns the number at three because of the gifts that are mentioned: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh. Legend even assigns them names: Gaspar (Casper or Kasper), Balthazar, and Melchior.

On this weekend, I invite you to gather your family in your home and perform the blessing of your home, recalling the visit of the Magi to the Christ Child. An insert is attached to the bulletin this weekend. A piece of chalk or Christmas card with the image of the Three Kings is all that you need. You can also use holy water and sing a Christmas Carol such as “We Three Kings.” You may also want to read the brief passage from the Bible as found in Matthew’s Gospel. You may also want to light the Star on your tree or Nativity scene or place the figures of the Three Kings and their camels at your family crèche. If you have already put your decorations away, take time to visit the Crèche in our Church and talk to your children about it.

You are all familiar with the ancient story: The magi from the east followed a star to where they found the child Jesus with Mary his mother. This star guided them to the Lord. On this feast of Epiphany, when we celebrate the manifestation (making known) of Christ to the world, it might be good to ask ourselves where we find the “stars” in our own lives that lead us to Christ. Each of us is aware of those people and situations that draw us away from the Lord. How aware are we of situations and people that lead us closer to the Lord?

Let’s take the opportunity today to ask the Lord to send more “stars” into our lives—to present us with situations and people who truly manifest the very presence of God. Let us ask God to give us the strength to turn away from those, like Herod, who deceive us, and to turn more readily to those who show us the way to truth and goodness in the Lord. During this New Year, 2016, let us strive to be “stars” that lead people closer to Christ by our words and actions.

Happy New Year and God Bless You,

Father Ric Pastor

THANK YOU! I would like to thank all of you from Saint John Bosco Parish who have made my first celebration of Christmas here very memorable. I am grateful to you for your prayers, cooperation and kindness. I am appreciative of all who took the time during this busy season to send cards and treats this Christmas. The diet and exercise begins soon, or at least that is what I tell myself. Your generosity is overwhelming. May God bless you! I am also grateful to all those who throughout the year have contributed so much time and talent in the various ministries which enrich our parish and enliven the faith of our people.

PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR

God of our yesterdays and today and our tomorrows, we praise you for your unequaled greatness. Thank you for the year behind us and for the year ahead.

Help us in the New Year, Father, to fret less and laugh more. To teach our children to laugh by laughing with them. To teach others to love by loving them. Knowing when love came to the stable in Bethlehem, He came for us, so that love could be with us and could know you, that we could share love with others. Help us, Father, to hear your love song in every sunrise, in the chirping of sparrows in our backyards, in the stories of old folks, and in the fantasies of our children. Help us stop and listen to your love songs, so that we may know you better.

Thank you for another New Year and for chances every day. We pray for peace, light and for hope, that we might spread them to others. Amen.