Hello everyone! This Sunday is the 2^nd Sunday in Ordinary Time, but the Gospel reading is kind of the trifecta of the feast of the Epiphany. Since Epiphany is about the manifestation of Jesus as God, the Church has lumped in three particular events in the life of Jesus where he is manifested as God. The first is event is in the Gospel reading that we heard on Epiphany Sunday two weeks ago: the magi bringing their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh to baby Jesus. Through the spiritual symbolism of their gifts, the magi manifest to the world that Jesus is King of the universe (gold), God (frankincense for prayer), and he who would die for our sins (myrrh for burial). The second event is the baptism of Jesus that we heard about last Sunday. The voice of the heavenly Father declares, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased,” as the Holy Spirit descends upon him in the bodily form of a dove. The third event, we will hear in this weekend’s Gospel account of the miracle at the wedding at Cana. Jesus turns water into wine and St. John tells us, “Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.” It’s the first of seven signs that St. John tells us about as he describes the people gradually going from darkness to a full recognition of Jesus as God. He is very intentional in making this point and concludes his Gospel by saying, “These are written that you may [come to] believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name” (John 20:31).

What I like about this Gospel passage, however, is that Mary points to Jesus and says very simply, “Do whatever he tells you.” It’s a reflection that Mary always points us to Jesus and that we should simply do whatever he tells us. When we do, He grants us an abundance of joy! When the servers do what Jesus tells them, they end up with an abundance of wine, about 180 gallons worth, to continue the wedding celebration. It also signifies God’s marriage relationship with us. He is the bridegroom and we, the Church, are His bride. He celebrates this marriage relationship with us with great joy! We have nothing to fear when we have a God who loves us first with such abundance! 

The ICC youth group had a great time bowling together this past Sunday. What was important was the fun and fellowship, not the scores!

Please keep Keith Goodwin in your prayers. Due to health issues, he had to resign from playing the piano at OLL. He did well, but it was short-lived. 

If you have any events that you are leading that you would like me to announce in my pastor’s update, please let me know or remind me so that I can include them. 

Keep praying the 54 day rosary novena that we began on January 1^st. If the prayers in addition to the rosary are too much for you, then just pray the rosary and make it for the intention of an end to abortion through a culture of life and for an end to this pandemic. 

At OLL, we will be doing a “Marian consecration for families with young children” using the book of the same name published by OSV. The 33 days of preparation includes short meditations to read with your children, easy for children ages 3-7 to understand. It will start on February 21^st and the consecration will take place on March 25^th, the Solemnity of the Annunciation. If you would like this beautifully illustrated book (at a huge discount) and to participate, please contact Ann Johnson at acjohnson@alumni.nd.edu .

The offertory envelopes have arrived and will be put out this weekend for pick up in the parish hall. You may also give online on our websites. Just go to lourdesada.org/give or icckenton.org/give and you’ll find the instructions there. 

Will take place from January 20-21 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington, D.C.  The January 20th opening Mass will begin at 5:30 p.m. and will be followed by a 7-8 p.m. Holy Hour for Life, concluding the evening portion of the Vigil program. Both the Mass and Holy Hour will be televised live by EWTN. The Closing Mass on January 21 will take place once again at the Basilica at 8 a.m. and will also be televised by EWTN.

This weekend is the Society for the Propagation of the Faith Membership Drive. To join, use your collection envelope for “Membership Sunday,” which is included in the parish’s January collection envelope packet. Members of the Society receive the graces of 15,000 Masses celebrated each day by missionaries for its members, living or deceased. Mass is also celebrated daily for Society members at Saint Peter’s Basilica in Rome.

Registration is now open for the 2022 Women’s and Men’s Conferences. Both are at the Ohio Expo Center in Columbus.

Women’s Conference is February 19, 2022 from 8am to 4:30pm. Register at columbuscatholicwomen.com

ICC will also be livestreaming the Women's Conference in the St. Anthony Center. The virtual session only costs $15. If you are interested in the livestream, please let the office know.

Men’s Conference is February 26, 2022 from 8am to 3pm. Register at catholicmensministry.com

Attached are the bulletins, Fr. Ferguson’s cat column, and the 54 Day Rosary Novena. 

Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us!      

Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, pray for us!   

God bless!       

Fr. Ed