"Rejoice and be glad,
for your reward will be great in heaven."
Matthew 5:12a
This Sunday is the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time and in the Gospel, we hear the beginning of Jesus' Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes. This Gospel is one of reversals - the people whom Jesus calls "blessed" and "happy" are not people the world generally thinks of as blessed and happy. What Jesus is telling us is that divine favor is upon those who are poor, those who mourn, those who are persecuted. He is calling out what true happiness is and that it is often the opposite of what society teaches us will make us happy. Our call as Christians is not to be first in this world, but rather to be first in the eyes of God.
This weekend is the kick-off to Catholic Schools Week 2023! Students from Saints Mary & Mathias Catholic School will be serving as Liturgical Ministers at all masses. We ask all Saints Mary & Mathias Catholic School families to wear green (school shirts if you have them) to show their school pride at Mass.
Catholic schools provide a nurturing environment for growth in wisdom, knowledge, and grace and aim at something more than education alone: the formation of our youth into saints in the making! From teaching kindergarten students how to genuflect, to leading middle schoolers through Theology of the Body, Catholic schools aim to build faith in their students and help them to form strong relationships with God.
During Catholic Schools Week, different activities take place each day: Alumni Mass and homemade lunch*, service opportunities, and fun activities for students which this year include student/teacher volleyball game, school wide 'Spoons' competition, bowling and bingo.
*Please note that All School Mass this Tuesday will be at 11:00 AM in the school gym. We encourage all alumni of SSMMCS to attend, but ALL ARE WELCOME!
Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Training
A second training opportunity for all current EMHC's and anyone wishing to become one has been scheduled for this Saturday, January 28 after the 5:00 PM Mass. If you were unable to attend the last training session, please make every effort to attend this one. Changes will be implemented the first weekend in February, and it is important that everyone is on the same page.
Light of the World Retreat
What is the purpose of your life?
Ever wonder what you are living your life for? What gives your life meaning and purpose? Can you really know God's plan for your life? If you have asked yourself these and other similiar questions, the "Good News" message of the gospel is that you are not alone! These are the questions of our hearts and souls, and the Light of the World retreat seeks to answer them.
Go deeper.
When you attend the Light of the World Retreat, you will learn what the clear message of the gospel means to you and how you can move ahead in your journey of faith.
See the Gospel come alive!
And learn how you can give purpose, meaning, and direction to your life.
Experience community and fellowship as you delve into God's love for us, our spiritual enemies, the person of Jesus Christ, making Jesus the Lord of your life, surrendering your life to the Holy Spirit, and more.
Register Today
Give yourself an amazing gift this Lent by signing up to attend our parish-based Light of the Word retreat and take the first step towards the Light. Join us March 3-6, 2023 at the Mazzuchelli Center. Please note the retreat on Friday and Monday is only in the evening. There is no charge to attend, but pre-registration is required. To register, please contact the parish office at (563) 263-1416
Adorers Needed
Volunteers are needed to cover the 6-7:00pm hour of Adoration of Blessed Sacrament on Thursday evenings. This is a great opportunity to spend some time with Jesus, present in the Blessed Sacrament. If you would be willing to help with this slot, please contact Sue Miller at smiller.ufs@gmail.com.
Update on Giving Envelopes
We were made aware earlier this month that due to supply chain issues, the company that prints our giving envelopes did not mail them to our parishioners this quarter (January - March). The issue has been resolved and they will be mailing out envelope bundles for March, April and May in mid-February. In the meantime, single-use envelopes are available in all the pews. Any donation you make by check will always be credited to your account. You can also place your donation in a blank envelope and write your name on the outside, and we will make sure it is credited to your account. We sincerely apologize for the confusion and appreciate your patience as we fix the situation.
