Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

Today we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. The Gospel lesson we heard today presents Jesus, Mary and Joseph in a unique relationship that binds them together as a family – with one another and with God. The important lesson the Holy Family teaches us today is: the relationship with God as the necessary requirement for the development of loving bonds within the family. It encourages to respect, to honor and to understand each other’s needs as unique individuals.

If we want to make the world a better place for our children, then families must show them the way to Church every Sunday. They must show them the experience of praying together at home; they must show them that God really cares for them by listening to God’s Word together; they must show them the joy of sharing time together; they must show them that the family that stays with God stays together.

The moment a child makes it difficult to pray together, that’s the very moment the child is beginning to experience some difficulty in his or her life. This is indeed the important moment to help the child or get help in order to resolve his or her difficulty. The family that prays together stays together.

Special thanks…
I wish to thank all who helped with the Christmas celebration, including Sister Michelle, all the decorators, all the flower donors and all who generously shared gifts for the needy children. Also for all those who volunteer their time and energy for a meaningful Christmas celebration and those who contributed generously for Christmas.

Welcome to the Family of God
Katelyn Elissa Macht was baptized in Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church and became a Child of God on Sunday, December 23, 2007. We congratulate Katelyn, her parents, Keith and Lori (Ziesemer) Macht, her godparents and grandparents.

LIST OF PARISHIONERS WHO DIED IN 2007
Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church

Vincent J. Cascio
Gloria Sabilia
Eugene D. Pompay
William Malinowsky
Inez Silva
Martha Davis Long
George Peabody
Jeanette Mugavero
Irene M. Moran
Barbara Jean Donoghue
Teresa F. Davis

Statistics
Sacraments for 2007
Baptism 6
First Communion 11
Confirmation 1
Marriage 1

SPECIAL BLESSING OF FAMILIES

Celebrant: My dear friends, from the sacrament of Matrimony the family has received newness of life and the grace of Christ. The family is especially important in the Church and to civil society for it is the primary life-giving community. In our celebration today we call down the Lord’s blessing upon you, so that you may continually be instruments of God’s grace to one another and witnesses to faith in all the circumstances of life. With God as your help, you will fulfill your mission by conforming your entire life to the Gospel and so witness to Christ before the world.

O God you have created us in love and saved us in mercy, and through the bond of matrimony you have established the family and willed that it should become a sign of Christ’s love for his Church.

Shower your blessings on this family gathered here in your name. Enable those who are joined by one love to support one another by their fervor of spirit and devotion to prayer. Make them responsive to the needs of each family member and witnesses to the faith in all they say and do. We ask this through Christ our Lord. AMEN! (Sprinkle families)

Announced Masses

Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph
December 30, 2007
5:00 P.M. For intention of Bishop Michael Cote
8:00 A.M. For the health of Sr. Michelle
(Deacon Ron & Donna Kitlinski)
10:30 A.M. Deceased members of all parishioners

Monday, December 31st    Seventh Day in Octave of Christmas
7:30 A.M. Jean Rex Miliukas
                         (Marcus & Celeste Milukas & Family)
5:00 P.M. For all those memorialized by Christmas Flowers
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
The Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin, The Mother of God
8:00 A.M. Parishioners of OLPH
Wednesday, January 2nd
              Sts. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen
7:30 A.M. Peace in the world
Thursday, January 3rd Holy Name of Jesus
7:30 A.M. Vocations to the Priesthood & Religious Life
Friday, January 4th St. Elizabeth Ann Seton
7:30 A.M. For the intention of Bishop Hart

The Solemnity of the Epiphany             January 6, 2007
5:00 P.M. Theresa Sorce    (Marie & Marvin Gawerecki)
Kim Kirker (Mildred Gula & Family)
8:00 A.M. Walter & Helen Sokol and
                    John & Henrietta Renkar
                       (Carol & Sr. Michelle)
10:30 A.M. For those who suffer from poverty & suppression

PRAYER FOR PEACE

GOD OUR FATHER

CREATOR OF THE WORLD,
YOU ESTABLISH THE ORDER
WHICH GOVERNS ALL AGES.
HEAR OUR PRAYER
AND GIVE US PEACE IN OUR TIME,
THAT WE MAY REJOICE IN YOUR MERCY
AND PRAISE YOU WITHOUT END.
WE ASK THIS THROUGH OUR LORD
JESUS CHRIST, YOUR SON,
WHO LIVES AND REIGNS WITH YOU
AND THE HOLY SPIRIT,
ONE GOD, FOREVER AND EVER.
AMEN