Good afternoon to all! Attached is our weekly bulletin for this Sunday, January 16th, the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time. We remind anyone who would like to adopt a Christmas poinsettia to please take it with you when you leave church this weekend. Please leave the foil sleeve and plastic tray, as we reuse these each year.
Sacrament Preparation Class Update
The class for children preparing for the sacraments is cancelled for tomorrow, Saturday, January 15. Our next session will be on Saturday, February 19. For more details, please contact Allison Mooney at SCBReligiousEd@archbalt.org.
The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, 1/17 in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday. See the bulletin for special opportunities to commemorate the day.
This is our month to provide casseroles for the guests at Our Daily Bread. Pans and recipes are available in the church vestibule (store-bought lasagna or mac-n-cheese casseroles are also accepted). Please deliver your frozen casserole to the parish office by this coming Wednesday, 1/19.
Email the parish office at charlesst@comcast.net to request a copy of your 2021 Year-End Giving Statement and we will send you a copy via return email. You may also call the office at 410-486-5400 to request a copy sent via US Mail. Please make your request by January 31st. Thank you!
You’re invited to join thousands of Catholics nationwide in prayer for the respect of human life during a special novena called 9 Days for Life (www.9daysforlife.com):
Next Saturday (January 22nd) is the annual “Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children.” Catholics are called to observe this day through prayer and penance.
Tuesday (1/18) begins the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. This year's theme, "We saw the star in the East, and came to worship Him," was selected by the Middle East Council of Churches and originates from the churches in Lebanon. In solidarity we pray with them:
God of every nation, creator of every human life, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Word of God, has been made manifest in human history by becoming one of us and one with us. Born in a stable, born in homelessness, he is our King and Lord. The Magi bore witness to the Light of hope coming into the world as they faithfully followed the star, coming from foreign lands in the East, until arriving in Bethlehem of Judea.
The solidarity of God with created humanity in this gift of Epiphany calls us to a life of solidarity with the homeless, the refugee, the weakest and the rejected. We are all human beings worthy of redemption and prepared by that redeeming love to the glory of your Kingdom. Help us, O gracious Lord, to do this in unity and peace.
As we who bear the name of Christian, from the days of the church at Antioch, hold a special place in our hearts for the ancient Christian communities in the land we call holy, remind us to continually respond to our baptismal promises to you, who said through your Spirit at the Jordan, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”
Help your Church, merciful One, to be a light for unity within itself and a beacon of hope for all humanity. We ask this through Jesus Christ, who with you and the Holy Spirit reign as One God for ever and ever. Amen.