29, 30 December 2012 * Finding in the Temple
Happy New Year!
St. Joseph Maronite
Catholic Church
3 Appleton Street, Waterville, ME 04901-6630
Office: Phone: 207-872-8515E-Mail:
stjoesinmaine@yahoo.com
Pastor: The Rev. Larry Jensen
Deacon: Rev. Mr. Peter P. Joseph 872-2225
Subdeacon: Steve Crate 872-9257
NEW Web Site Address: http://www.sjmaronite.org
“The Eastern Rites are the Treasure of the Catholic Church”
Pope John XXIII
Liturgies:
Saturday 4:00 p.m., * Sunday 10:00 a.m. * Tuesday - Friday 9:00 a.m. in the St. Jude Chapel
The Miraculous Medal and the St Jude Novenas are on Tuesday following the 9 a.m. Liturgy
Sick Calls:
To receive the Eucharist and/or the Anointing of the Sick, Please call Fr. Larry.
Confessions: A Half-hour before all scheduled Liturgies, emergencies, and by appointment.
Baptisms:
Call the Office
Marriage:
Call the Office 6 months before you finalize a date for your wedding and book your reception.
*Suggested donation for the Sanctuary Candles, St. Jude Chapel $20, St Joseph Church $20, for the Altar Bread, $25, and the Wine, $25 .
Suggested offering for Liturgies: $10 for weekdays - $15 for weekends.
Choir Director:
Sacristans:
Fefa Deeb
Yvonne Nemer, Theresa Nemer
& Laurie Nale
Luke 2:141-52
Each year his parents went to Jerusalem for
the feast of Passover, and when he was twelve
years old, they went up according to festival
custom.
After they had completed its days, as
they were returning, the boy Jesus remained behind
in Jerusalem, but his parents did not know it.
Thinking that he was in the caravan, they journeyed
for a day and looked for him among their relatives
and acquaintances, but not finding him, they
returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three
days they found him in the temple, sitting in the
midst of the teachers, listening to them and asking
them questions, and all who heard him were
astounded at his understanding and his answers.
When his parents saw him, they were astonished,
and his mother said to him, "Son, why have you
done this to us? Your father and I have been
looking for you with great anxiety." And he said to
them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not
know that I must be in my Father's house?" But
they did not understand what he said to them. He
went down with them and came to Nazareth, and
was obedient to them; and his mother kept all these
DRE:
Teachers
3-5
K-1
2
Lenore Boles
Rosanna Joseph
Jane Lee
things in her heart. And Jesus advanced [in]
wisdom and age and favor before God and man.
Dear Parishioners and Friends:
A part of us might wonder why Mary and Joseph
didn't understand what Jesus was up to; after all for
the past twelve years they were with each other
every day.
They both were familiar with the
supernatural, they had spiritual dreams, heard the
voice of God, angels, and the Holy Spirit guiding
them and giving them direction. Even still they didn't
understand everything. We do not have the mind of
God, we have His image, but we are not infinite in
our knowledge and understanding.
There is no need for us to be filled with anxiety and
shame in our searching and seeking understanding.
As is sometimes said, there is no stupid question;
stupidity comes in when we ignore the answer.
Jesus does have the answer, not, always as oneline verse answer either. Sometimes the answers
He gives takes three days of searching and looking,
praying and petitioning. Sometimes it takes a whole
lifetime for some questions to be answered.
We think we just figured out a few things and out of
the blue something concerning our faith and God
overwhelms us and leaves us feeling lost and
wondering what is going on in the mind of God. Like
Mary and Joseph, we might not notice that we are
no longer traveling with Jesus, until we feel
something missing in our lives.
Like them we need to retrace our steps and
discover where He is, what He is doing. There are
those who cannot find Jesus because they refuse to
enter the places where He teaches and explains.
Jesus is in His Father's House, His words are read
and a reflection is heard day after day.
God is everywhere, and what we see and
experience daily is a gift from Him through His
creation. As wonderful as this is, Mary and Joseph
did not look to creation for a substitute for the
presence of their son, but looked until they found
Him and pondered the purpose of His Incarnation.
Found in His Father’s house, teaching the word.
Anxiety became heartfelt pondering of the mystery
of salvation.
God never requests something from us that doesn’t
have a powerful reason and blessing attached to it.
We might not see or feel it right away, but the day
will come when all that is good becomes fulfilled,
and what is evil is destroyed. We walk by a loving
faith that changes our self and all those around us.
Aboona
PRAY FOR THE SICK OF THE PARISH
Heal Your servants, who are sick,
O Lord, and send them help
And comfort from Your holy place.
Those who seek our prayers: Grace Crowther,
Dianne Fjeldheim, Herb Jabar, Albert Joseph,
Gerald Joseph, Kendra Maroon, Hope Murphy,
Tala Poulin, and Virginia Poulin.
Liturgy Helps:
Be sure your cell phone is off or silenced
2nd Collection – Jan 13 Catholic School Subsidy
Liturgy will begin with the pamphlet, at the creed we
will switch to the Blue Booklets page 47
The song during the collection: Come Lord Jesus!
Liturgy Intentions
Sat 29 4:00 p.m.
† Joseph & Mary Smus
By Paula, David, & Patricia Smus
Sun 30 10:00 a.m.
† John Trinward (40 Day)
By David & Jody Veilleux & Family
When the servers go to the side altar, those who
will be carrying the gifts may go at this time.
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Be sure to let Aboona know if you would like a
name added or removed.
Church Etiquette
Refrain from long and loud conversations, no food
or drinks in church, no leaving of pews during the
reading of the Gospel and the Consecration of the
Bread and Wine, Check to see if your cell phone is
off. Modest clothing is expected and appreciated.
Thank you
Thank you everyone for the Christmas Cards,
care packages, and gifts. They are deeply
appreciated. May God bless you and keep you,
and may 2012 be one of many blessings.
Aboona Larry, Deacon Peter,
& Subdeacon Steve
31 Father’s day off for prayer,
reflection, and relaxation
Holy Day New Years Day For Peace
1 9:00 a.m.
† Jeannette Marie Sleiman
By John T. Sleiman
2 9:00 a.m.
Intention Available
3 9:00 a.m.
Intentions Available
4 9:00 a.m.
† Caroline Nale
By Mark & Laurie Nale
5 4:00 p.m.
† Eugenie Abdejalil
By Salim & Andre Nasr
6 10:00 a.m.
† Edward Nassar
By Freda Maroon Nassar & Judie Lynn
Nassar & Family
Last Weeks Collection
Regular Collection
$1,876.00
God bless you for your generosity
Today we celebrate your finding in the temple,
sitting among the teachers. You taught us that
God must be the first and the last in all that we
do, for our lives have no meaning except in our
Lord and God.
Calendars 2013 Are in!
READERS SCHEDULE
Please feel free to take one calendar per family for
now, until we are sure everyone has received one.
Finding in the Temple
Hebrews 7:11-19
Luke 2:41:52
4 p.m. Dec
29 Lila Hallowell
10 a.m.
30 Kevin Michaud
Thank You!!!!
In Alphabetical Order
Choir – You did an outstanding job this year in
making the Christmas Pre-Liturgy Program and the
Liturgy such an inspiration. Your many hours of
hard work came through.
Christmas Liturgy Projection – In sharing your
equipment and skill, you made it possible for all the
Congregation to follow along and inspiringly
participate in a manner that otherwise would not be
possible.
Deacon, Subdeacon, Servers, and Readers –
Thank you for you ministery throughout the year
and especially on the “High Holy Days”.
Religious Education – The Christmas play was
powerful and filled with many symbols of the
Natavity of Our Lord. The true meaning shown forth.
Sacristans – Thank you for all the work you do
throughout the year for keeping the church looking
good and especially the time given to make the a
beautiful church look even more beautiful.
December Devotions
Sanctuary Candles
St. Joseph 14 days Sanctuary Candle
Subdeacon Deeb Ferris
By Steve & Allison Crate
St. Jude 7 Day Sanctuary Candle
Intentions Available
Altar Bread:
For
John & Margaret Joseph
By
Rosanna Joseph and family
Altar Wine:
For
John & Margaret Joseph
By
Rosanna Joseph and family
Intentions are available for both Candles and the
Alter Bread and Wine in February.
Food Pantry - January
Apple sauce Beef ravioli
Hearty soups 100% fruit juice in plastic bottles
Thank you for caring!
Anniversaries for January
Feast of Epiphany
Titus 2:11-3:7
Luke 3:15-22
4 p.m. Jan
5 Lenore Boles
10 a.m.
6 Kevin Michaud
EVENTS FOR JANUARY
Wed
2 Parish Council Meeting
Sun
6 Relgious Education
Sun
13 Rosary Sodality Meeting
Mon 14 Maronite Priest Retreat in Florida
Sat
26 Public Turkey Dinner sponsered by
The Immaculate Heart KofC
Coffee Schedule
12/30/12
Jeanne Thomas
01/06/13
Lenore Boles
01/13/13
Kelly Elias
01/20/13
Cindy Elias
01/27/13
Paula Mitchell
02/03/13
Mary Jo Hodgkin
02/10/13
Jody Veilleux
02/17/13
Mary Nader
02/24/13
Laya Joseph
03/03/13
Maureen Lee
Sharon Crowe
Pam Casavant
Theresa Nemer
Nancy Elias
Anna Mitchell
Jane Lee
Mary Hawes
Roseanna Joseph
Jan Bourque
Jeanne Thomas
Future Events
Feb 3rd Super Bowl Breakfast, Feb 10th, Majdra Dinner
and Talent Show, Weekend of March 17th for the 25th
Anniversary of Fr. Larry Jensen (Aboona).
Let Aboona know if you would like your name added to
the Birthday and/or Anniversary list
Birthdays in January
Explaining the Catholic Faith
These articles are from the following link:
http://www.biblechristiansociety.com/apologetics
I was talking with an Evangelical co-worker and
he said the Bible teaches that once we are
“saved,” we can never lose our salvation. Is that
true?
Absolutely not. In fact, the Bible is full of passages
that either directly or indirectly contradict this
doctrine of “Once Saved, Always Saved.” For
example:
Rom 11:17-23, “But if some of the branches were
broken off [the Jews], and you, a wild olive shoot
[the Gentiles], were grafted in their place to share
the richness of the olive tree [Jesus Christ], do not
boast over the branches...For if God did not spare
the natural branches, neither will He spare
you...Note then the kindness and the severity of
God: severity toward those who have fallen, but
God’s kindness to you, provided you continue in His
kindness; otherwise you too will be cut off.”
Paul is talking about how salvation has come to the
Gentiles, while many of the Jews have rejected it.
And he makes it very clear that once you have been
grafted into Christ, you must “continue in His
kindness,” or you can also be cut off. So, even after
you’ve been saved, you can still be cut off from
Jesus Christ.
This is further seen in Galatians, chapter 5. Verse 1,
“For freedom Christ has set us free; stand fast
therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of
slavery [sin].” If once saved always saved is true,
then one cannot “submit again” to a “yoke of
slavery,” and Paul’s warning makes no sense.
But Paul goes on in verse 4 to say, “You are
severed from Christ, you who would be justified by
the law; you have fallen away from grace.” Paul is
talking to Gentile Christians who had been wrongly
taught by the Judaizers that they have to be
circumcised and obey the Mosaic Law in order to be
true Christians. Paul tells them that is false, and if
they submit to circumcision and to the Old Law,
they will be “severed from Christ.” If once saved
always saved is true, though, they can’t be severed
from Christ and, once again, Paul’s warning is
meaningless.
We also have the Parable of the Prodigal Son, Luke
chapter 15. The Prodigal Son was in his father’s
house, and the father here is representative of God
the Father. Then, the Prodigal Son leaves his
father’s house and goes and lives a sinful life. In the
end, though, he repents and returns to his father.
After the Prodigal Son returns, the father says this
of him in verse 24: “For this my son was dead, and
is alive again; he was lost, and is found.”
In Evangelical terminology, to be dead is to be
unsaved, and to be alive is to be saved. Notice very
carefully, though, that the father says the son is
alive “again.” In other words, the son was alive, or
saved, when he was in his father’s house at the
beginning of the parable; was “dead,” or unsaved,
when he left his father’s house and lived in sin; then
was alive again, saved again, when he repented
and returned to his father’s house. Alive, dead, alive
again. Saved, unsaved, saved again.
Once saved always saved? I don’t think so.
LEBANESE CUISINE
34 Temple Street * Waterville, ME 04901
207-873-7813
Waterville Florist
Thank you for your weekly flower donations
287 Upper Main Street
Tel: 207-872-7422 also 888-616-48880
GALLANT FUNERAL HOME INC.
John O. Gallant, CFSP, Owner/Director
10 Elm Street * Waterville, ME 04901
Tel 873-3393 Fax 877-7106 * Website: gallantfh.com
GHM Insurance Agency
Auto * Home* Business * Life * Benefits
51 Main Street – Downtown Waterville
Tel: 207-873-5101 www.ghmagency.com
GRONDIN’S CERTIFIED DRY CLEANERS
259 Main Street - Waterville, ME 04901
207-872-8132
Century 21 – Surette Real Estate
Pam Casavant - Partner/ Associate Broker
Tel: 207-873-5634 Ext 219
e-mail: pcasavant@surette-realestate.com
web: www.surette-realestate.com
JOKAS’ Discount Beverage
52 Front Street - Tel: 207-873-6228
Central Maine’s Complete Package Store
Joseph’s Market
74 Front Street * Tel: 207-873-3364
e-mail: Josephmkt@myfairpoint.net
Web: www.Josephmkt.com
SII Investments, Inc.
One Silver Street - Tel: 207-872-8689
Lawrence D. Griffin, MBA
“The Catholic Church, East and West,
breaths as two lungs in the same body”
Blessed John Paul II