Secret Plan · 1/5/2020  · generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” Jesus was born, and he came to save each of us, no matter

EPIPHANY OF THE LORD JANUARY 5, 2020

MASS INTENTIONS SATURDAY, JANUARY 4 5:15 PM Judy Dimitri (4

th Ann.),

By Fran, John and Maureen John and Barbara Esposito (Rem.), By family SUNDAY, JANUARY 5 8:00 AM Paul Tessier (Rem.), By daughter 10:00 AM Eleanor and Frank Chiello (Rem.), By family 11:30 AM Deceased Members of the Perrotti and Ciccone Families (Rem.), By family MONDAY, JANUARY 6 9:00 AM OPEN INTENTION TUESDAY, JANUARY 7 9:00 AM Levi and Thomas Kelley (Rem.), By Wini and Marie WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8 9:00 AM John Bilobram, Sr. (Ann.), By Ann and John THURSDAY, JANUARY 9 9:00 AM NO SCHEDULED MASS TODAY FRIDAY, JANUARY 10 9:00 AM Mary Felix (5

th Ann.),

By Ann and John SATURDAY, JANUARY 11 5:15 PM OPEN INTENTION SUNDAY, JANUARY 12 8:00 AM Deceased Members of the Perrotti and Ciccone Families (Rem.), By family 10:00 AM Deceased Members of the Poirier and Riccio Families (Rem.), By Bill, Cecile and family 11:30 AM Marie Richard (Rem.), By family Frank Piccolo (Rem.), By Mr. & Mrs. John Napolitano 1:00 PM Baptisms

A thought for the NEW YEAR

Shed peace, not discord, wherever you go. Try to be part of the cure of every situation, not part

of the problem. Try to ignore evil, rather than to actively combat it.

Always try to build up, never to tear down. Show others by your example that happiness comes

from living the right way. The power of your example is greater than the power

of what you say.

Prayer for the NEW YEAR I pray that I may try to bring something good into

every situation. I pray that I may be constructive in the way I think and speak and act in the New Year

ahead.

Borrowed from Paul Turner

Secret Plan

The birth of Jesus became the worst kept secret in the history of the world. All along, people knew God had a plan. God had told everyone from Adam and Eve, to Abraham and Sara, to Moses and Miriam, to David and Bathsheba, to Hosea and Gomer, to Mary and Joseph that there was a plan. Nobody fully understood it. Nobody knew how God would bring the plan to fulfillment. But they all believed. They had seen God work mighty deeds in their lives, and they believed that one day the promise of redemption would be fulfilled.

Jesus was God’s secret. When Jesus was born in humble surroundings outside of royalty and pageantry, only a handful of people even began to realize what God had done.

But the secret got out. Angels appeared in the sky. Shepherds showed up. And Magi traveled from a faraway land. Everyone was finding out God’s two great surprises: Jesus was born as the promised Messiah, and he came not just for his own race, but for all the people of the world.

The Letter to the Ephesians says, God’s mystery “was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit.” Jesus was born, and he came to save each of us, no matter what family we came from, what we believed, or how we behaved. The mystery of God’s love is open now to the whole world. That is the epiphany, the revelation of God’s secret.

(Call for additional Mass availability)

The following dates and times are available SATURDAY JANUARY 11 5:15 PM

SATURDAY JANUARY 18 5:15 PM

SUNDAY JANUARY 19 8:00 & 11:30 AM

ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE CHURCH JOHNSTON, RI

Family Faith Formation, Outreach and Evangelization

Phone:232-9321 E-mail: [email protected] Monday 1/6/2020 9th and 10th grade

Tuesday 1/7/2020 1st,2nd,3rd and 4th grade Wednesday 1/8/2020 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade

Why do Catholics have the symbols 20+C+M+B+YEAR written in chalk on or above their doors? The symbols come from a Catholic blessing of the home connected to the Feast of the Epiphany. Here is what they mean: 20+YEAR = The year of the blessing. + = The Cross C = Caspar M = Melchior B = Balthasar The letters can also stand for “Christus Mansionem Benedicat” which means “May Christ bless this house.” The chalk symbols are nice reminders that you have asked for a blessing upon your home and all who come in and out of those doors. Personally, I like that it reminds me to go in and out always searching for the Lord in my life and in the world, just like the magi. - Jared Dees

20+C+M+B+20 Loving God, bless this household. May we be blessed

with health, goodness of heart, gentleness, and abiding in your will. We ask this through Christ our Savior.

Amen.

OUTREACH and EVANGELIZATION The visit of the Magi occurs directly before the story of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt. Matthew’s Gospel tells a version of Jesus’ birth that is different than the one in Luke. Of the actual birth of Jesus, Matthew tells us little more than, “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod”. The story of the census is found only in Luke’s Gospel, but we hear about the visit of the Magi only in Matthew’s Gospel. We know little about the Magi. They come from the East and journey to Bethlehem, following an astrological sign, so we believe them to be astrologers. We assume that there were three Magi based upon the naming of their three gifts. The Gospel does not say how many Magi paid homage to Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel, they represent the Gentiles’ search for a savior. Because the Magi represent the entire world, they also represent our search for Jesus.We have come to consider the gifts they bring as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ role in salvation. We believe the meaning of the gifts to be Christological. Gold is presented as representative of Jesus’ kingship. Frankincense is a symbol of his divinity because priests burned the substance in the Temple. Myrrh, which was used to prepare the dead for burial, is offered in anticipation of Jesus’ death. – Our Sunday Connection

Happy New Year! Dina

SUNDAY, ROSARY FOLLOWING 8:00 AM MASS IN THE UPPER CHURCH WEDNESDAY, AAGROUP MEETING AT 7:00 AM IN THE CHURCH HALL (EVERY WEDNESDAY) FRIDAY, AA AT 8:00 PM IN THE CHURCH HALL (EVERY FRIDAY) FRIDAY, NA GROUP MEETING AT 10:00 PM IN THE CHURCH HALL

Sunday Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6; Mt 2:1-12 Monday 1 Jn 3:22-4:6; Mt 4:12-17, 23-25 Tuesday 1 Jn 4:7-10; Mk 6:34-44 Wednesday 1 Jn 4:11-18; Mk 6:45-52 Thursday 1 Jn 4:19-5:4; Lk 4:14-22 Friday 1 Jn 5:5-13; Lk 5:12-16 Saturday 1 Jn 5:14-21; Jn 3:22-30

Call: Jan Zarrella (274-6576) or

Charon Souza (231-3962)

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR FOOD SHELF!

The Food Shelf is in need of

Peanut butter/ Jelly Canned Vegetables

Baked Beans Ramen Noodles

$10.00 STOP & SHOP OR PRICE RITE GIFT CARDS ARE ALWAYS

WELCOME Thank you for your generosity!

ST. ROBERT BELLARMINE CHURCH JOHNSTON, RI

Community Outreach Ministry Our outreach ministry has been successful this year because of your generosity

Since the need for warm clothing is great, we will continue to collect them during the winter months. We have distributed all of our prayer shawls, lap blankets, hats, scarfs and gloves so please continue making them. All the hand crafted items we have received have been beautifully made. We continue to count on your support of this ministry. With grateful hearts, Carolyn & Marge

The Office of Life and Family will offer the Our Lady of Sorrows Bereavement Support program at St. Robert Bellarmine Church, lower level on Tuesday evenings 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm through January 21, 2020This support group provides a peaceful place to share an, d learn about grief with the spiritual comfort of our Catholic faith. It is most appropriate for adults at least three months beyond their loss. There is no cost to attend! For registration/information, contact: Peter A Magnotta at 421-7833, ext. 217.

Bone Builders is an innovative program designed to promote bone health and overall well being for

both men and women. Classes are operating on a donation of $2 per class.

Classes are held in the church basement on Wednesday and Friday mornings at 10:30.

All are welcome!!

You are invited to to serve as Christ did by joining fellow parishioners at MaryHouse meal kitchen, housed at St. Patrick's church and school in Providence. Please contact Terry Novak if you are able to serve on any of the following dates. Email is [email protected] you may also call 331-7075. (Volunteers must be at least 14 years old)

January 20 (MLK Day; 3:30-6:00 p.m.) February 24 (3:30-6:00 p.m.)

January 10-11, 2020 Our Lady of Providence is hosting its annual overnight retreat for men who are seniors in high school and older. The retreat director this year will be Monsignor John Darcy, pastor of St. Margaret’s Church in Rumford. If you are discerning a vocation to the priesthood, or know of a man who you think would appreciate an invitation, please contact Fr. Brian Morris at the Office of Vocations by phone at (401) 331-1316, by email at [email protected], or visit CatholicPriest.com.

Grateful for God’s Providence St. Robert Bellarmine

CAMPAIGN NEWSLETTER A few weeks ago we participated in the Grateful for God’s Providence Commitment Weekend and we are making progress toward reaching our goal. To the all families who made their commitment, we want to extend a special “Thank You!” for joining the other members of our parish family who have committed to this campaign. This brings our total participation to 211 families. Our current pledge total is $371,924!! Thank you for your support! If you have not participated to date, please help us build on this success and reach our goal! Our goal of $423,714 is within reach! With each

additional sacrifice, our goal becomes that much more attainable! Whatever the sacrifice

you are able to give please know that it is greatly appreciated!!

FUN SEEKERS INVITATION. Join us on January 22, 2020 at 6:30pm in the

church hall for an Information Night on our upcoming 9 day Northern National Parks Tour in June. Come hear the exciting news about this trip visiting: Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone Park, Crazy

Horse, Grand Tetons, Custer State Park and MORE. Call Edyie & Buddy for more information

401 231-7237.

Meditation for the Day If we are honestly trying to live the way we believe God wants us to live, we can get guidance from God in times of quiet prayer, provided our thoughts are directed toward God’s Will and all good things. The attitude of “Thy Will, not mine, be done” leads to clear guidance. Act on this guidance and we will be led to better things. Our impulses seem to become less our own and more the leading of God’s spirit acting through our thoughts. Obeyed, they will bring us the answers to our prayers.

BLOOD DRIVE

...SAVING

LIVES

TOGETHER!

St. Robert Bellarmine Church Thursday, January 9, 2019

3:00pm- 6:00pm Blood Mobile

1804 Atwood Ave., Johnston

To make an appointment online, go to www.ribc.org, click on the eDonor link, log into your account

and set up an appointment using Sponsor Code 0297.

In January, all donors will receive a $5 gift card from Dunkin Donuts!

The schedule for Weekday Masses beginning in January

will be as follows: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday at 9AM. Mass will be cancelled whenever

Johnston Schools has a cancellation or delay of classes due to inclement weather. Any intention scheduled will

be added to Fr. Richard’s daily prayers.