Next Live STREAM: 5 pm Sat. 1/22/22, Third Sunday in Ordinary Time

Today the Gospel takes us to the town of Cana for a wedding feast. As if the presence of Our Lord, his Mother, and the apostles was not already extraordinary, it was the setting for the first of Our Lord’s signs—the changing of water into wine.

In his book, The Faith Explained, Fr. Leo Trese observed, “Besides the priesthood, there is no state in life that pleads for grace as demandingly as does marriage. No matter how well matched they may be, it is not easy for any two people to live together day in and day out, year after year, with their…faults and personality defects…If ever there was a state of life which called for grace, this is it.” This grace comes to a couple through the Sacrament of Matrimony. According to Fr. Trese, the sacramental grace of marriage:

• Perfects the natural love of husband and wife
• Elevates this love to a supernatural level which surpasses mere mental and physical compatibility
• Gives marital love a sanctifying quality, making it an instrument of growth in holiness and marriage, a path to sainthood
• Imparts conscientiousness in the begetting and rearing of children and prudence in the many problems of family life
• Enables spouses to adjust to one another’s shortcomings and to bear with one another’s faults

This is only a little of what the grace of Matrimony will accomplish for those who, by their cooperation, give God a chance to show what He can do.

This is a gift we need to emphasize more than ever as we find many couples foregoing a sacramental marriage, preferring to be wed at a venue other than a church in a non-Catholic rite. Besides the fact that such marriages are invalid for a Catholic, couples deprive themselves of the graces the Lord wishes to bestow. Reversing this popular trend is a great challenge. Let us do what we can to encourage the engaged to “invite the Lord” into their union. They can have no greater companion on the journey then the One who sanctified and made joyful the couple at Cana!

                      With affection, 
                    Msgr. Gervasio
 

Chè pawasyen,

Jodia, Levanjil la mennen nou nan Vil Kana pou yon bèl maryaj. Se kòm si prezans Granmèt la, manman l e Apot yo pa te ekstraòdinè, se la Granmèt prale fè premye syn li: dlo tounnen diven.

Nan liv li a, THE FAITH EXPLAINED, pè Leo These obsève: Eksepte sasèdòs, pa genyen lòt eta nan lavi ki mande gras ak tou ekzijans sa a tankou mariaj. Kelkeswa jan 2 moun marye yo bon, li pa fasil pou 2 moun  viv ansanm jou apre jou, ane apre ane, avèk fot yo e defo pèsonalite yo…Si gen yon eta nan lavi a ki mande lagras, se byen li.  Koup marye yo jwenn gras sa a nan sakreman maryaj la. Daprè pè Trese, gras sakramantèl la :

• Fè lamou natirèl mari ak madanm lan rive nan pèfeksyon
• li leve lamou sa a nan yon nivo sinatirèl ki dépase senp konpatibilite mantal ak fizik
• li bay lamou yon gen pou lòt yon kalite ki santifye li, fè li vini yon enstriman ki pèmèt moun lan grandi nan sentete e maryaj, se chemen sentete.
• li bay konsyans nan fè pitit e nan edikasyon timoun yo e pridans nan anpil pwoblèm nan lavi familial.
• li pèmèt moun marye yo adapte yo a defo lòt la e sipòte defo yo

Se yon ti pati nan sa lagras maryaj la kapab fè pou moun ki, gras a koperasyon yo, rive bay Bondye yon chans pou montre sa li ka fè.

Se yon kado nou dwe mete aksan sou li plis pase toutan paske nou konstate anpil koup renonse a maryaj sakramantèl, olye yo ale nan legliz yo prefere marye lòt kote nan yon rit ki pa katolik. Non sèlman maryaj sa yo pou yon katolik invalid, koup sa yo, pa jwenn gras Granmèt la ap ba yo a. Change tandans popilè sa a se yon gwo defi. An nou fè sa nou kapab pou ankouraje fiyanse yo, pou yo “envite Gramèt” la nan inyon yo a.Yo pa ka genen pi bon moun ki pou akonpanye yo sou wout la pase Sila ki santifye koup Kana a e fè koup la jwenn kè kontan!

                     Avèk afeksyon,
                    Mgr. Gervasio

Our Lady of Sorrows-Saint Anthony, Hamilton
January 20

Today's Memorial

Fabian was a layman who was elected pope in 236, chosen, according to the early Christian historian, Eusebius, because a dove landed on his head when the community gathered for the election. He was an excellent administrator. He divided Rome into seven areas each served by a deacon. He organised building works in the cemeteries (Catacombs) and brought back the bodies of Saints Pontian and Hippolytus from Sardinia. His fourteen years as pope seem to have been mostly a period of peace, but when the persecution of Decius took place, he was one of its first victims. Sebastian was probably a native of Milan, born of Christian parents. He was drafted into the army and became the captain of the guard of Maximinian at Rome. Because of this he was able to help some Christians arrested during the persecution of the Emperor Diocletian. But on finding this out, Diocletian ordered him to be shot with arrows. A legend relates that a Christian widow Irene found him still breathing, carried him to her home and nursed him back to health. He then confronted the Emperor for the cruelty of his persecution. The enraged emperor had him beaten to death and his body thrown in the Cloaca Maxima, Rome’s main sewer. Christians recovered his body, washed it, and wrapped it in a shroud and buried it outside the walls along the Appian Way in the vaults now known as the catacombs of St Sebastian. 

Christmas Gratitude

Parish Office Hours

St. Anthony's "Arrival"

Soon Comes the Synod

I hope many parishioners will attend one of the meetings scheduled to contribute to the Synod called by Pope Francis to take place in Rome in 2023. The meeting will a time of prayerful listening and discernment to what the Holy Spirit is revealing to the Church in these challenging times. Pope Francis hopes the Synod will help the Church effectively evangelize. Everyone’s experience of the Church is unique, and the Pope asks us to listen to whatever that experience is in a welcoming way, devoid of judgement. The schedule is below. While specific groups are noted, any parishioner is welcome to attend any meeting.
 

Giving Statements

Thanks to all who generously and regularly support our parish.  A statement of your 2021 contributions is available after January 29 by calling the office or sending by mail or through the collection basket, a self-addressed envelope.

Why is it important to be "registered" with a parish?

• It indicates one’s intention to identify with a certain Catholic community
• It is a commitment to practice the faith.
• It is a means to stay connected. Contact information is important so that the parish can provide timely updates via email, direct mail, phone, etc.
• Use of offertory envelopes or online giving enables the parish office to provide a year-end statement of your donations for income tax purposes.
• Notifying the parish office of any changes in address or phone number will help update the census and avoid complications
• It facilitates the issuance of eligibility letters to be a sponsor
• It facilitates the issuance of any “letters of permission”required by Canon Law.
• Census numbers assist the diocese and parish in pastoral planning.
• Children are considered members with their parents until their 18^th year. Once they are 18, they should register as a member independently of their parents.

Grants Awarded

Covid Test Kits Available

The Diocese of Trenton is committed to the norms of the U.S. Bishop’s Charter for the Protection of Children and Young People in regard to the reporting and investigation of sexual abuse allegations involving minors.  If you have been sexually abused as a minor by anyone representing the Catholic Church, or if you know of someone who was, you can report that abuse through the diocesan Hotline: 1-888-296-2965 or via e-mail at abuseline@dioceseoftrenton.org.  Such allegations are reported to the appropriate law enforcement agencies.   

The scammers are at it again! If you receive an email message like the one below

Let me know if you are not occupied at the moment, I need you to do me a favor real quick. Email me back immediately you receive this message.

(or anything similar), purportedly from Monsignor Gervasio, Fr. Joseph (or any other OLS-SA staff member), do not respond to it. 

Please be aware that any calls, texts, or emails you receive asking you to give food, toys, money, or gift cards to our priests, deacons, or any others representing OLS-SA are a scam, and should be reported to the Hamilton Township Police Department.
 

Remember, if you don’t see it in the bulletin or on the parish or school website, it’s a scam!