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By the end of next weekend we will know the two teams that will be playing in Super
Bowl XLVII. When the NFL draft took place during the last weekend of April many fans watched in eager anticipation to see whom their favorite team would select. When the draft was over, some of those same fans began an analysis of their team's picks trying to predict whether the new players would help their team develop into a winning combination. While seasoned players are often the ones who lead the way, the newest members of the team can be called on at a moment's notice to perform at the highest level of the sport. Fans and coaches alike were filled with expectations for these new recruits. And at this point in the season, near the end of the playoffs, we know whether those expectations were fulfilled or whether they were misplaced.
Early in his Gospel, St. Luke describes a similar situation in reference to John the Baptist. Of course, in first-century Palestine there was no
"prophet draft" to see who could make the cut as best proclaimer of the word of God. We know that there was any number of people at the time of Jesus who exercised prophetic ministry. Some even claimed to be the Messiah who would throw off the yoke of a foreign oppressor, the Romans. John never claimed that.
Today's feast honors the second of three mysteries that are celebrated as the manifestation of Christ. Last week it was the Magi who bore witness. This week it is John the Baptist and the Holy Spirit descending as a dove. Next week it will be the miracle at Cana that testifies that Jesus is the Christ, the anointed One of God. Unlike some of the rookie players who were drafted last spring, we can acknowledge that Jesus has met every expectation and fulfilled all that we had hoped for.
2012 Liturgical Publications Inc
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Jesus makes his first public appearance, and is baptised in the
Jordan. The Father recognizes him as his beloved Son and he is anointed by the Holy Spirit. Next week: Jesus graced with his presence a wedding ta Cana.
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Howard Martin
Alex Dominick (Uncle of Sandy Franczak)
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GENERATIONS
OF FAITH
Our 2012-2013 year:
“Social Justice”
January’s theme:
‘Peace’
January’s Sessions:
Saturday, January 12 th ● 9:30-12:00pm
Sunday, January 13 th ● 5:00-7:30pm
Monday, January 14 th ● 6:00-8:30pm
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JANUARY 'GOF' GUEST SPEAKER: We welcome Bill Marx to our January sessions as we explore
"Peace". Bill chairs the Social Justice Ministry at St. Mary of the Lake parish in Hamburg, and has been a member of the Buffalo Diocese Justice & Peace Commission for several years. He organized and served as Regional
Coordinator for Pax Christi WNY, the local chapter of the
International Catholic Peace Movement. Bill is a member of the Advisory Board for the SSJ Sister Karen Klimczak
Center for Nonviolence, and coordinates their Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) at Wende Correctional Facility in
Alden, NY. Bill was a member of the Christian
Peacemaker Team delegation visiting Iraq in February,
2003.
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FIRST RECONCILIATION STUDENT
SESSIONS BEGIN IN FEBRUARY, on Sunday,
February 3 rd from 9:00-10:15am. Families will receive a packet with a full schedule and other important information at the January ‘GOF’ sessions. The schedule is also posted on our website.
11 TH GRADE CONFIRMATION STUDENT
SESSIONS BEGIN IN FEBRUARY, on Monday,
February 4 th at 7:00pm. Families will receive a packet with a full schedule at the January ‘GOF’ sessions; the schedule is also on our website.
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Please join us next weekend for coffee and doughnuts Sunday,
January 20 th after the 8:00am &
10:30am Mass. Wine and cheese will be offered on Saturday,
January 19 th after the 5:00pm Mass.

≈ Up-Coming Meetings ≈
Altar and Rosary Society: Tuesday, January 15 th
At 1:00pm in the Parish Hall.
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NOW A WORD FROM RURAL TRANSIT: Rural
Transit Service provides transportation to seniors, disabled and low/moderate income families. Rides are on a donation basis. Volunteers are needed to drive or work in the dispatch office, if interested please call 592-0088.
St. Gabriel’s Holy Name Society presents a 60’s – 70’s Dance on
Saturday, January 26 th to be held at
St. Gabriel’s Parish Center, 5271
Clinton Street, Elma, NY. Music by
“Mitty and the Followers” (formerly
The Legendary Dukes). Music is from 8:30 to 12:30. Pre-sale ticket cost is $15.00, at the door cost is $18.00 this includes beer, wine & pop
– NO B.Y.O.B. For tickets and information please contact Ron at 668-0328 or Dick at 892-5154.
**21yrs & Older**
What’s Love Got to Do With
IT?
Celebrate your marriage with a Valentine’s evening for married couples at Christ the King
Seminary Saturday, February 9 th at 6:00pm. A candlelight dinner will be followed by a presentation by Dan and Irma O’Connor and time for reflection. We will end the evening with a celebration of the Eucharist and a renewal of vows, led by Msgr. James Wall. A detailed flyer & registration form is available at www.cks.edu
or by calling 805-1438. Registrations must be received by February 1 st .
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Bloodmobile: Friday, January
18 th from 1:00 to 6:00 in the
Parish Hall.
th
th
Monday, January 14th
8:00am William Leising (Estate)
Tuesday, January 15th
8:00am Living & Deceased Parents
Wednesday, January 16th
8:00am For All Parishioners
Thursday, January 17th
8:00am No Mass
Friday, January 18th
8:00am Jane Sweeney (Estate)
Saturday, January 19th
5:00pm Living & Deceased Parents
Sunday, January 20th
8:00am William Leising (Estate)
10:30am Living & Deceased Parents
Saturday, January 19th
5:00pm Adam Fridman, Jacob LoVullo & Mark Wagner
Sunday, January 20th
8:00am Abigail Jusiak & Dalton Cochran
10:30am Erin, Alexandra & Elizabeth Izydorczak
Saturday, January 19th
5:00pm E. & R. Russell & Cheryl Wenke
Sunday, January 20th
8:00am John Hilton & Mary Major
10:30am P. McBride, S. Youngers & K. Gray
Saturday, January 19th
5:00pm Cheryl Zielen-Ersing
Sunday, January 20th
8:00am Josh Van Remmen
10:30am Children’s Mass
Sat/Sun January 19th – January 20th
●5:00pm K. Orlando ●8am A. Antholzner ●10:30am S. Kidd
Collection Week Of: 01/06/2013
$3507.00 Regular Collection,
$40.00 Religious Education,
$136.00 News Years Collection
& $155.00 Fuel
Counters for January 20 th : Team A