The Catholic Churches of St. Cecilia † St. Mary † St. Patrickshowcase.netins.net/web/catholic/1-2-18.pdf · These two rich gifts — used for their aroma and for medicinal purposes

Rev. Fr. Tom Kunnel, Pastor Rectory: (641) 747-2569 Cell: (712) 404-2305 603 Main St. Guthrie Center IA. 50115

Email: [email protected]

Parish Office

Office Hours:

Monday– Closed

Tues.-Wed: 9a.m.-12:00p.m.

Thurs.–Fri. : Afternoon

Office Phone Number:

(641)-747-384

Parish Staff:

Business Manager:

Judee Vaughan - [email protected]

Children’s Catechesis Dir. Fr. Tom Kunnel

Children’s Catechesis Coord.

Courtney Redford [email protected]

Parish Secretary:

Gale Armbrecht [email protected]

Please call for Sacramental Emergencies If you have a loved one hospitalized, please call Father Tom or our office to inform us as we cannot obtain patient information from the hospital directly. Sacrament Guidelines: Baptism: Make prior arrangement with the pastor Marriage: Make prior arrangements with pastor Mass Intensions: Mass intension envelopes are at the back of each church. Please fill out, deposit do-nation, and place in the weekly collection. Parish Locations:

ST MARY PARISH 603 MAIN STREET GUTHRIE CENTER, IA 50115

Parish Hall– St Mary

ST CECILIA PARISH

220 N 1ST ST.

PANORA, IA 50216

ST PATRICK PARISH 214 Prairie Street

Bayard, IA 50029

The Catholic Churches of

St. Cecilia † St. Mary † St. Patrick

January 7, 2018

The Epiphany of the Lord

To authentically hand on the Catholic faith by leading people to Jesus in the

Eucharist; so that our living Savior will help us to Know Him, Love Him as he desires,

to use our gifts to Serve Him and to fulfill our purpose of living with him in heaven.

PARISH MISSION

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the

days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east

arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the

newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its

rising and have come to do him homage.”

Matthew 2:1-12

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GIFTS OF THE EPIPHANY

The Feast of the Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ is one of the oldest Christian feasts, though, through-

out the centuries, it has celebrated a variety of things. Epiphany comes from a Greek verb meaning "to

reveal," and all of the various events celebrated by the Feast of the Epiphany are revelations of Christ to

the world. Like many of the most ancient Christian feasts, Epiphany was first celebrated in the East, where

it has been held from the beginning almost universally on January 6. For the Eastern Catholics and Eastern

Orthodox, the feast is known as Theophany—the revelation of God to man.

Epiphany originally celebrated four different events, in the following order of importance in the life of

Christ: at the Nativity, the angels bear witness to Christ, and the shepherds, representing the people of

Israel, bow down before Him; and at the visitation of the Magi, Christ's divinity is revealed to the Gen-

tiles—the other nations of the earth. At Christ's Baptism, the Holy Spirit descends and the voice of the heavenly Father is heard, de-

claring that Jesus is His Son; at the wedding in Cana, the miracle reveals Christ's divinity. Western Christians adopted the Eastern feast

of the Epiphany, still celebrating the Baptism, the first miracle, and the visit from the Wise Men. Thus, Epiphany came to mark the end of

Christmastide—the twelve days of Christmas which began with the revelation of Christ to Israel in His Birth and ended with the revela-

tion of Christ to the Gentiles at Epiphany.

The three kings are classic figures in every Nativity set — one king on a camel, one kneeling at the manger and one standing

ready to offer his gifts. But who were the Wise Men, and what do we know about them? We’re not exactly sure who they were. The

evidence from the Gospels is found in the first 12 verses of St. Matthew’s account. All we can glean from that passage is that they are

called Magi, or “magicians,” that they came from the East to Jerusalem, and that they had seen a star announcing the birth of the King

of the Jews. The Gospel doesn’t say there were three Wise Men. That idea comes from the three gifts they brought.

To track down who the Wise Men were, we must first look East. The obvious choice is the Parthian Empire. During the time of

Jesus, the Parthian Empire was the name of what was formerly the Persian Empire. It was centered on present day Iran and Iraq. In the

Parthian Empire there was a caste of astrologer priests based in the ancient religion of Zoroastrianism. Most scholars think the Magi

were Zoroastrian priest-astrologers from Persia. However, none of this is recorded in Matthew’s Gospel. Neither is there a mention that

the Wise Men were kings — nor are there camels in Matthew’s account. So, where did the idea come from that the Wise Men were

camel-riding kings? The idea of three kings and the presence of camels is linked with two Old Testament prophecies. Psalm 72:10-11

reads: “May the kings of Tarshish and the islands bring tribute, the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts. May all kings bow before

him, all nations serve him.” Isaiah 60 is also read in the liturgy on the feast of the Epiphany, and, like Psalm 72, Isaiah highlights the

double meaning of the visit of the Wise Men: that the light of Christ has come into the world and is for all people — not only the Jews.

If we are looking to the Scriptures for evidence, the prophecy from Isaiah suggests that the Wise Men came from what is now Jordan,

Saudi Arabia and Yemen. If so, they probably did come on camels, since Midian especially was known for its abundance of camels.

Where did the gold come from? As mentioned, Yemen is the present-day location of the ancient civilization of Sheba. The

kingdom’s fabulous wealth was based on gold mines in Ethiopia. Archaeologists have recently discovered what they believe to be the

mines of the queen of Sheba. The story of the queen of Sheba (see 1 Kgs 10), who came in procession with great royal gifts of wealth

establishes a prophetic precedent. Just as the queen of Sheba came to bear gifts to the Jewish king Solomon, so it could be that the

king of Sheba during Jesus’ time came, like his illustrious ancestor, to bear rich gifts to the king of the Jews.

Finally, Jesus Himself mentions this link in Matthew 12:42 when he refers to the queen of Sheba’s visit to Solomon and, refer-

ring to himself, says, “there is something greater than Solomon here.” There are more intriguing clues based on three gifts. The Arabian

Peninsula — especially the area of Midian and Sheba — is the only place in the world where the specific plants grow from which are

harvested the resin to make both incense and myrrh. These two rich gifts — used for their aroma and for medicinal purposes — were

the cash crops of this part of the world. The origin of the three gifts would indicate that the Wise Men came from the Arabian Peninsu-

la. And the gifts were not simply rich gifts offered to Christ, but were symbolic gifts from the kingdoms of their original.

The gifts had diplomatic significance and suggest that the Magi were indeed either kings or ambassadors from the court of

Nabataea and Sheba. Even more intriguing, there was constant traffic along the “incense route,” which came north from the southern tip

of Arabia up to what is now Jordan and across Judea to Gaza. If the Magi were from southern Arabia and the Kingdom of Nabataea

(present-day Jordan), their trade route ran right past Jerusalem and Bethlehem.

Herod knew something was up, but his reaction was one of fear for his position. He was not a kind king. He was ruthless and

vicious in the persecution of his enemies both real and perceived. In Jesus we find a king who is the complete opposite. He would not be

concerned about power. He would be concerned with our relationship with His Father.

There should be some awe in us when we ponder Jesus and say His name. There should be some revulsion when the Sacred

Name is misused. It is time to once again learn to do what the religious sisters taught us, what our grandmothers taught us, and bow our

heads when the Name is said. Not only might that bow change us, it might change others as well.

God bless you all, Fr. Tom

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WEEKLY CALENDAR

Saturday, January 6

4:00 PM Confession, Bayard

4:15 PM Divine Mercy Chaplet, Bayard

4:30 PM Mass in Bayard

Sunday, January 7

8:00 AM Confession, Panora

8:15 AM Divine Mercy Chaplet, Panora

8:30 AM Mass, Panora

9:00 AM-10:00 AM Adoration, Bayard

10:15 AM Divine Mercy Chaplet, Guthrie Cntr.

10:30 AM Mass, Guthrie Center

Monday, January 8

Office closed

5:15 PM Confessions & Divine Mercy Chaplet, Bayard

5:30 PM Mass, Bayard

Tuesday, January 9

3:45-4:45 PM Adoration, Panora

5:15 PM Confession & Divine Mercy Chaplet, Guthrie Cntr.

5:30 PM Mass, Guthrie Cntr.

Wednesday, January 10

7:45 AM Confession & Divine Mercy Chaplet, Panora

8:00 AM Mass, Panora

9:00 AM Prayer group, Panora

4:00-5:00 PM Adoration, Guthrie Cntr.

Thursday, January 11

7:45 AM Confession & Divine Mercy, Panora

8:00 AM Mass, Panora

Friday, January 12

7:45 AM Confession & Divine Mercy Chaplet, Guthrie Cntr.

8:00 AM Mass in Guthrie Cntr.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday -The Baptism of the Lord

Is 42:1-4, 6-7

Tuesday - 1 Sm 1:9-20; 1 Sm 2:1, 4-5, 6-7, 8abcd; Mk

1:21-28

Wednesday - 1 Sm 3:1-10, 19-20; Ps 40:2 and 5, 7-8a,

8b-9, 10; Mk 1:29-39

Thursday - 1 Sm 4:1-11; Ps 44:10-11, 14-15, 24-25; Mk

1:40-45

Friday - 1 Sm 8:4-7, 10-22a; Ps 89:16-17, 18-19; Mk

2:1-12

Saturday - 1 Sm 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1; Ps 21:2-3, 4-5, 6-7;

Mk 2:13-17

Ministries for the Liturgy

St. Patrick — Sat., 4:30 PM, Jan 13

EMHC: Joyce Betts, Angie McAlister, Dennis Betts

Gifts: Carlene Murrane

Greeter: Kay Vaux, Lenore Fiedler Lector: Ann McAlister, Deb Carter

Servers: Samuel Shirbroun, Aaron McAlister

Usher: Jerry Hagan, Andy McAlister, Alfred Wessling, Tom

Wardyn

Money Counter: Robyn Corkins, Joyce Betts, Dennis Betts

St Cecilia — Sunday, 8:30 AM, Jan 14 EMHC: Donna Kennebeck, Leon Kennebeck Webster, Kathy Gifts Erika Cozad & family

Greeters: Donna Woodvine, Jeff Beckman

Lectors: Bette Donahey, Sean Crees

Ushers: John McDermott, Moe Russell, Deb McDermott, Bill

McDermott

Servers: Molly Simmons, Keira Simmons, Lindsey Meyer

Money Counter: Michael Gibson, Esther Gibson, Donna

Kennebeck

St Mary — Sunday, 10:30 AM, Jan 14

EMHC: Judy Bauler, Kim Patrick, Dennis Patrick

Greeter: Cass Fronapfel

Lectors: Kim Patrick, Dennis Patrick

Server: Genevieve Hoover, Jorja Hooper, Jayla Hooper

Ushers: Dennis Schreck, Brian Tunink, Tim Carter, Paul Clark

Money Counter: Chris & Johnnie Downing, Judy Bauler

STEWARDSHIP GIFTS

ST. CECILIA $3, 313.00

ST. MARY - $1, 013.00

ST. PATRICK -$632.00

January 6th 4:30 PM - Vernard Walstrom

January 7th 8:30 AM - Dee Suther

January 7th10:30 AM - Ryan Family

January 8th 5:30 PM - Lucille Walstrom

January 9th 5:30 PM - Matt Murrane

January 10th 8:00 AM - Jerry Suther Family

January 11th 8:00 AM - Dee Suther

January 12th 8:00 AM - Ryan Family

MASS INTENTIONS: Mass intension envelopes are at the back of each church. Please fill out, deposit donation, and place in the collection.

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St. Patrick Parishioners: The CRB Food Pantry, sponsored by the churches of these two communities for the people of these two com-munities is asking members of St. Patrick church to sup-port this cause with donations. Each month the Pantry Board assesses their inventory and assigns items to the various churches. During the months of January, Febru-ary, and March we have been asked for donations of laundry detergent, any kind, any size, and/or personal care items such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, shower gel, deodorant, toilet paper, etc. to be brought to church and placed in the tote in the cry room. It will be delivered to the pantry site in Coon Rapids, then on the third Tuesday of each month packages will be

brought for distribution in Bayard. Thank You!

Parish Directory: Those who did not participate in the photo opportunity for the directory. Please give your address, email an phone number to the office or Kathy Klinge at 641-757-0272.

Envelopes: Please note collection envelopes are at the back of each church. Please pick up your box. If you do not find a box with your name on it, please contact the par-

ish office.

Feast of the Epiphany January 6 & 7 is the Feast of the Epiphany when Christians celebrate the 3 wise men's (foreigners) search for God. Legend has it that they fol-lowed a star. Gazing at stars can be a mystical expe-rience. Look up at the sky with your child tonight. Hopefully you will see stars. Ponder the universe together.

Thank you

for your

Stewardship

of

Talent

Commitment

St. Patrick

Sunday

9:00-10:00M

St. Cecilia

Tuesday

3:45-4:45 PM

St. Mary

Wednesday

4:00-5:00 PM

ADORATION

Human Life and Dignity

Lord and giver of all life, help us to value each person,

created in love by you.

In your mercy, guide and assist our efforts to promote the

dignity and value of all human life, born and unborn.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen.

We have 2 new “Lighthouse Talks” CDs available from The Augustine Institute. Please consider listening to one or both. Should you choose to keep a CD, please offer a donation of $2 to $3 per CD. If you choose to listen and then return, no donation is necessary.

ENCOUNTER CHRIST FIRST – Then Set The World On Fire with Curtis Martin. Curtis Martin, founder of FOCUS and world renowned author-ity on evangelization, shares how a personal encounter with Jesus is the key to following him with fidelity, gratitude, and joy. With humor and relatable examples, he also shows how experiencing Christ before evangelizing others is the biblical model witnessed to by the Apostles, and one that is certain to bear fruit in the life of any believer. A great talk on the im-portance of deepening our relationship with Christ! OUR LADY OF FATIMA The Truth to Inspire Series offers captivating dramatizations for children of the lives of saints and well-known Marian ap-paritions in order to teach them more about the Catholic Faith. In this presentation hear how the three shepherd chil-

dren, Lucia, Jacinta, and Francisco, were graced with visits from Our Lady of Fatima.

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Jan.13 &14, 2018 Jan. 20 &21, 2018 Jan. 27 & 28, 2018 Feb. 3 & 4, 2018 Feb. 10 &11, 2018

EMHC Kim Patrick, Dennis

Patrick, Judy Bauler

Dennis Flanery, Sandy

Eivins, Cindy Ahrens Jim Bradford, Cindy

Ahrens, Judy Bauler

Mike Downing, Lori

Faucher, Dennis Flanery

Dennis Flanery, Sandy Eivins ,

Jack Lavoy

Gifts Jamie Carlson Paul & Cheryl Clark

Brian & Erica Tunink Barb Flanery,

Dianna Sparks Amy Hoover

Ushers Dennis Schreck, Brian Tunink, Tim Carter,

Paul Clark

Chris& Johnnie Downing,

Frank Holle, Jack Lavoy Dustin Clark, Dennis Schreck, Spencer Sloss,

Curt Sloss

Brian Tunink, Frank Holle,

Jack Lavoy, Travis Clark

Dustin Clark, Dennis Schreck, Paul Clark,

Tim Carter

Servers Genevieve Hoover, Jorja Hooper,

Jayla Hooper

Carter Hanson, Grace

Lavoy, Hayden Tunink Justin Reinhart, Mackenzie

Reinhart, Conor McCarthy

Isabelle Policky, Patin

Policky, Cooper Tunink

Klare Sheley, Mason

Wahl, Brennan Tunink

Lectors Kim Patrick,

Dennis Patrick

Bonny Snyder,

Faith Laboy Judy Bauler,

Cass Fronapfel

Linda Downing,

Mike Downing

Cass Fronapfel,

Lori Faucher

Greeters Cass Fronapfel Dennis Schreck

Jack Lavoy Amy & Jalen Rutledge Amy Hoover

Money

Counter Chris & Johnnie

Downing, Judy Bauler

Mary Jane Carothers, Crystal Hanson,

Bernadette Clark

Lori Faucher, Dennis

Flanery, Chris Downing

Bernadette Clark, Judy

Bauler, Amy Rutledge

Amy Rutledge, Mary Jane Carothers,

Dennis Flanery

St Mary

Jan. 13 &14, 2018 Jan. 20 &21, 2018 Jan. 27 & 28, 2018 Feb. 3 & 4, 2018 Feb. 10 &11, 2018

EMHC Joyce Betts, Angie

McAlister, Dennis Betts

Carlene Murrane, Amy

McAlister, Joyce Betts Robyn Corkins, Savannah

Sease, Dennis Betts Judee Vaughn, Dennis

Betts, Joyce Betts

Savannah Sease, Carlene Murrane,

Angie McAlister

Gifts Carlene Murrane Savannah Sease,

Lexi Schroeder Patrick & Ann McAlister Jamie McAlister Michael & Deb Carter

Ushers Jerry Hagan, Andy McAlister, Alfred

Wessling, Tom Wardyn

Dennis Betts, Andy McAlister, Pat McAlister,

Alfred Wessling

Jerry Hagan, Dennis Betts, Michael Carter,

Brian McAlister

Tom Wardyn, Jerry Hagan, Pat McAlister,

Andy McAlister

Brain McAlister, Alfred Wessling,

Michael Carter

Servers Aaron McAlister,

Samuel Shirbroun

Max Shirbroun,

Ben Obert Gabe Obert,

Samuel Shirbroun Aaron McAlister,

Preston McAlister Samuel Shirbroun,

Lucas Obert

Lectors Ann McAlister,

Deb Carter

Robin Corkins,

Judee Vaughn Brian McAlister,

Deb Carter Alisa Venteicher,

Jill Hart Brian McAlister,

Lyle Laughery

Greeters Kay Vaughn,

Lenore Fiedler

Savannah Sease,

Lexi Schroeder Patrick & Ann McAlister Kay Vaughn Michael & Deb Carter

Money

Counter Robyn Corkins, Joyce

Betts, Dennis Betts

Robyn Corkins, Brian

McAlister, Joyce Betts Joyce Betts, Ellen Heater,

Dennis Betts Robyn Corkins, Angie

McAlister, Brian McAlister Joyce Betts, Dennis Betts,

Brain McAlister

St Patrick

Jan. 13 &14, 2018 Jan. 20 &21, 2018 Jan. 27 & 28, 2018 Feb. 3 & 4, 2018 Feb. 10 &11, 2018

EMHC Donna Kennebeck, Leon Kennebeck, Kathy Klinge,

Eric Webster

Marcia Hackford, Bill Hackford, Sean

Crees, Jean Higgins

Tim Fitzgerald, Carla Fitzgerald, Lauri

Webster, Jean Higgins

Jean Weisz, Dave Ryan,

Page Arganbright,

Tom Arganbright,

Jean Weisz, Page

Arganbright, Tom

Arganbright, Michael

Carey

Gifts Erika Cozad & family Moe & Marti Russell Barbara & David Ryan John & Deb Seeman Lauri & Lucas Webner

Ushers John McDermott, Moe Russell, Deb McDermott,

Bill McDermott

Tom Watts, Carol Wendl, Jim Wendl, Jeff

Houston

Jeff Arganbright, Michael Carey, Dave Breitbach,

Donald Staver

Don Donahey, Leonard Hemann, Tim Fitzgerald,

Carla Fitzgerald

Kathleen Leinen, Orville Leinen, Barb Ryan,

David Ryan

Servers Jaxson Lawrence, Payton

Douglass, Jordan Douglass

Robert Fisher, Austin

Block, Aden Rochholz, Avery Sebern, Eli Sebern,

Molly Crees

Natalie Watson, Robert

Fisher, Austin Block Lindsey Watson, Avery

Sebern, Molly Simmons

Lectors Bette Donahey,

Sean Crees

Tim Fitzgerald,

Carla Fitzgerald Maureen Lubeck,

Mary Jones Moe Russell,

Molly Simmons, Shannon Hafner,

Gregory Steffen

Greeters Donna Woodvine,

Jeff Beckman Bette Donahey,

Dan Donahey Nancy Holloway,

Mary Jones Carol Evans,

Jean Higgins Ross Huney,

Toni Huney

Money

Counter

Michael Gibson, Esther Gibson,

Donna Kennebeck

Carla Fitzgerald, Josh Sebern,

Erika Cozad

Deanie Thomas, Donna Kennebeck,

Michael Gibson

Josh, Sebern, Carla Fitzgerald,

Esther Gibson

Erika Cozad, Michael Gibson,

Donna Kennebeck

St Cecilia

Liturgical Ministry Schedule

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