Mary, Mother of Jesus Roman Catholic Church

ALL ARE WELCOME

No matter what your present status in the Catholic Church, no matter what your current family and marital situation, no matter what your personal history, age, background, race, etc., you are invited, welcomed, loved and respected here.

OUR MISSION STATEMENT

To live, love, forgive, and serve the needs of others in the example of Jesus Christ.

PARISH OFFICES

9323 Highway 165 South P. O. Box 408, Woodworth, Louisiana 71485

Phone - (318) 487-9894 Website: mmjchurch.org

OFFICE HOURS

Monday - Thursday 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Rev. Paul M. LaPalme KHS, Pastor 2120 Coulee Crossing Road, Woodworth, LA 71485 (318) 487-9894 - [email protected] Mrs. Brinda Edwards, Coordinator, Religious Ed (317) 250-9997 - [email protected] Deacon Paul Sunderhaus, Permanent Deacon (318) 487-9894 - [email protected] Mrs. Linda Kelly, First Penance/First Eucharist (318) 447-3149 - [email protected] Ms Cindy Campbell, Secretary/Bookkeeper (318) 487-9894 - [email protected] Ms Jennifer Smilie, Youth Minister (318) 201-5367 - [email protected] Dr. Mary DeVille, Organist/Director of Music (318) 487-9894 - [email protected]

Divine Worship

Monday - Thursday 7:00 a.m.

Saturday Anticipated 4:00 p.m.

Sunday 8:00 a.m. & 10:30 a.m.

Sacraments of the Church

Reconciliation/Confession 30 minutes before every weekend Mass.

Baptism Celebrated during any weekend Mass or other convenient time. Contact the church office.

Holy Matrimony

Contact the pastor at least six months in advance.

Anointing of the Sick and Communion Calls Please call the office when a parishioner is confined at home, is in the hospital, or placed in a nursing home or hospice. Holy Communion is brought weekly to all shut-ins.

Mass of Christian Burial All arrangements should be made directly with the funeral home who will then contact the church.

Mass Intentions

WEEK OF JANUARY 23, 2021 WEEK OF JANUARY 30, 2021

Reg. Collection: Support Of Our Parish Reg. Collection: Support Of Our Parish 2nd Collection: Church In Latin America

SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 SATURDAY, JANUARY 30 4:00PM - Charles H. Ellington, Nancy Cook 4:00PM - Joe Beasley

Lector: G. Patty Lector: K. Sayes Server: K. Sayes Server: L. Brocato

SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 SUNDAY, JANUARY 31 8:00AM - Loretta Sanders 8:00AM - Douglas and Frankie Lou Pringle

Lector: K. Chapman Lector: G. Delaney Server: L. Delaney Server: K. Chapman

10:30AM - All U.S. Service Men & Women, 10:30AM - Carl Bess, Jr.

living and deceased Lector: J. Antee

Lector: K. Bellard Server: I. Antee Server: L. Brocato MONDAY, FEBRUARY 1 MONDAY, JANUARY 25 7:00AM - Bryan Waits for healing

7:00AM - Ben Van Mol TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2 TUESDAY, JANUARY 26 7:00AM - Ben Van Mol 7:00AM - Carl Bess, Jr. WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3 WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 27 7:00AM - Cupie Waits 7:00AM - Cupie Waits THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4 THURSDAY, JANUARY 28 7:00AM - Charles Ellington 7:00AM - Bryan Waits for healing

Sanctuary Candle Burns This Week If you are a victim or survivor of sexual abuse by members of the Catholic clergy or represent- atives of the Catholic Church and you want to make a formal complaint of abuse to the diocese, arrange a personal meeting with the bishop or his representative, and/or to obtain support for the needs of the individual and families, call Dr. Lee Kneipp, Victim Assistance Coordi- nator (318) 623-3804 or the Diocesan HOT- In Loving Memory of Larry Robin, Jr. LINE (318) 445-1427. Diocesan Protecting our By His Sister Cindy Campbell Children - Understanding, Reporting, and Pre- venting Child Abuse” brochures are available in If you would like to have a loved one or special the narthex bookcase. Both the Diocesan Policy intention remembered by providing for the sanc- for the Protection of Minors, and the Diocesan tuary candle, please contact the parish office. Code of Pastoral Conduct are in the safe envi- The cost is $7.00 per candle. ronment section at www.diocesealex.org

3 The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time January 23 - January 24, 2021

PLEASE REMEMBER IN PRAYER STEWARDSHIP

Our Recently Deceased OFFERTORY GIFTS - 1/17/2021

Walter Gatlin, Larry Robin, Jr. Regular Collection $ 4,048.00

Our RCIA Candidate EFT Collection $ 2,080.00 Weekly Goal $ 5,330.00 Alyss Green Overage $ 798.00

Our Permanent Deacon Candidate Goal for January (5 Sundays) $ 26,650.00

Kenny Sayes Received for January $ 16,530.00 Still needed for January $ 10,120.00 Those Preparing For First Eucharist

Olivia Bennett, Lucy Brundrett, Eli Byrd, Evan Maintenance & Repairs $ 40.00 Falks, Sara Long, Jace Moreau, Gunnar Ogaard, Caden Rajewski, Halle Reynolds Thank You For Your Generosity!

Our Sick

Diane Babin, George Babin, Marvin Barnage, ANNUAL DIOCESAN APPEAL (ADA) Lynn Bawner, Mary Louise Bawner, George Juan Burns, Richard Charon, Brian Dobard, Randy Francis, Doris Hebert, Edna Johnson, Parish Goal 2020 $ 18,702.00 Helen Mathews, Jacques Matt, Debbie Norment, Pledged (43 families) $ 18,702.00 Helen Robbins, Michelle Vincent, Carmen Balance Remaining $ 00.00 Wyrick

Our Recovering/Convalescing “Remember that when you leave this earth, Chris Andries, Michael Brewton, Amy Ladner you take with you nothing that you have re- Davis, Gerri Deptula, Walter Deptula, Jr., Rhon- da Earhart, Betty Jones, Terry Kohler, Helen ceived only what you have been given: A full Mathews Smart, Buddy Wise heart enriched by honest service, love, sacri- fice and courage.” (St. Francis of Assisi) Our Homebound

Gerri Deptula, Butch Doiron, Jane Hollier, Alvin Loyacano, Adrienne Stevens, Mike Stevens

Our Nursing Home Residents

Joan Alpha, Bunny Bosak, Marie Hawthorne, Francis Thiels Electronic Giving is a convenient, consistent Our Active Duty Military way to help our church grow. It allows you to Kory Butler, Brandon Coreil, Travis Edwards, create or alter your contribution schedule at any Dustin Guillory, Michael Hawthorne, Daniel time and see reports of your contribution history Keely, Kelley Perry, Robin Perry, Michael Smi- that you can use for your records. Consider lie scheduling a recurring electronic contribution today. You won’t need to write checks and pre- pare envelopes every week. And even when you Please inform us if you know of anyone who can’t attend Mass, your electronic contributions should be included or removed. You may also will arrive without delay. Visit our website: use a pew envelope for this purpose. www.mmjchurch.org

4 Mary, Mother of Jesus Catholic Church Woodworth, Louisiana

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION/CCD PARISH NEWS

Grades 6 - 11 First Monday Supper

Sunday, January 24, 2021 February 1, 2021 3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. - Youth Center 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Eat in or take out. $8.00 per meal. Grades PreK - 5

Due to the ongoing issues of Covid-19, we will Menu: Chicken and sausage gumbo. Desserts continue at-home Religious Education Instruc- may be purchased at an additional cost. All tion for Spring 2021. Beginning Wednesday, funds support our church’s maintenance and re- pair fund. January 13, 2021, Mrs. Brinda Edwards will be available each Wednesday evening in the St. Blaise

Church Hall from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. to offer rd needed assistance to parents and children. In commemoration of the February 3 memorial of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, and the patron of those who suffer from throat ailments, throats will be blessed as the final blessing at all Masses the weekend of January 30 - 31.

MMJ Prayer Line

Call (318) 625-9195 to pray, in the presence of If you are not Catholic and have been thinking Christ, with one of our Prayer Companions. about initiation in the Catholic Church, or if you Spend Time In Prayer are a Baptized Catholic who has not celebrated all three of the Sacraments of Initiation, consider Remember that our church is open Monday joining the Right of Christian Initiation for through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Adults. RCIA is the process by which people This is a wonderful opportunity to take some celebrate their Sacraments of Initiation, namely quiet time out of your day to spend a moment in Baptism, Communion and Confirmation, in the prayer with Jesus. Catholic Church. Sanctuary Candle

Who is RCIA for? Please remember that the sanctuary candle is available to burn weekly for any intentions you  Unbaptized... Persons (7 years and older) may have for the living, the deceased, in thanks- who want to follow in Jesus’ footsteps and giving, in need, etc. If you’re interested, please become members of the Catholic Church; call Cindy at the church office.

 Baptized in Another Christian Church... Biennial Garage Sale Those members from a different Christian community other than Catholic who are Saturday, April 17, 2021 seeking full initiation in the Catholic Church; 7:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

 Baptized but no previous Religious Educa- Our parish has a subscription to FORMED, an tion... persons who were baptized as babies online platform subscription service offering in the Catholic Church but have not had any access to the best Catholic digital content pro- Religious Education within the Catholic Tra- ducers - studies, films, audio, and eBooks. All dition. Have you celebrated all of your sacra- parishioners of every age can access this great ments of Communion and Confirmation? Catholic material. Go to formed.org, select

For more information please call Beth Chapman Mary, Mother of Jesus Church, and complete (318) 623-8016 or Cindy Sayes (318) 446-2893. the simple registration.

5 The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time January 23 - January 24, 2021

Roman Noble Born in AD 347 to an illustrious Roman family with ties to the gens Cornelia (the ancient high noble - Patri- cian - family that traced its origins to the legendary king, Agamemnon, and produced more eminent statesmen than any other in Rome’s history), Paula married a Senator, Toxotius, from whom she had five children: four girls and a boy. Until she was 32 years old, she lived in privilege and luxury, dressing in silk and being carried through the city by eunuch slaves. At the death of her husband, Paula approached the group of widows led by Saint Marcella, devoting herself with them to prayer and penance and hosting their semi-monastic order in her great Roman house on the Aventine Hill. It was Marcella, who, AD 382, introduced Paula to St. Jerome, who was in Rome with Epiphanius, bishop of Salamina, and Paulinus of Antioch; Paula was deeply struck by these figures, and she housed the three pilgrims in her home. Jerome had a profound influence on Paula and was catalyst of her desire to embrace the monastic life in the East

In the Holy Land In September AD 385, after the death of her daughter Blesilla, Paula decided to leave for the Holy Land, ac- companied by her daughter, Eustochium, to follow monastic life. Jerome, who had left about a month ahead of them, rejoined them at Antioch, and together they made pilgrimage to the holy places in Palestine; they then went to Egypt, in the footsteps of the hermits and cenobites, and finally settled in Bethlehem. There they founded two monasteries, one for men and one for women. Every day the nuns sang the entire Psalter, which they had to know by heart. Paula was also particularly fond of fasting and performing works of charity. She even gave to the poor from the stores meant to provide for her own community’s subsistence. Both Paula and Eustochium took an active part in Jerome’s preaching, becoming his most fervent collaborators and conform- ing more and more to his spiritual direction. Jerome was a man of irascible temper, and Paula helped him, especially in his disputes with the followers of Origen, to conduct himself in their regard on the basis of humili- ty and patience. A clear example of their lifestyle is evidenced by the letter Paula wrote to Marcella, who had remained in Rome, to try to persuade her to leave the City and to reach them in Bethlehem.

The Translation of the Bible into Latin Paula’s most significant contributions to Jerome’s preaching are the translation of the Bible from Greek and Hebrew into Latin. She herself suggested the need for such a translation, and with her daughter Eustochium, dedicated herself to copying the work so it could be shared far and wide.

Death In AD 406, at age 59, Paula understood that death was near. She seemed to hear the voice of Jesus speaking to her in the words of the Song of Songs: “Get up, my friend, my beloved, and come soon! For, behold, the win- ter is past, the rain has ceased, it is gone; show me your face, let me hear your voice, because your voice is gentle, your face is lovely.” To this she answered in the words of Psalm 27: “The Lord is my light and my sal- vation, of whom I will be afraid? The Lord is defending my life, who will I fear? I am sure to contemplate the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living,” and let herself go to death. Not only the monks and nuns of the two monasteries she founded, but also many of the poor, whom she had helped over the years, and who considered her a mother as well as a benefactor, took part in her exequies. She was buried in Bethlehem, in the church of the Nativity. Jerome dedicated the Epitaphium sanctae Paulae to her, and at his death in 419, was buried near the tombs of Paola and Eustochium.

6 Mary, Mother of Jesus Catholic Church Woodworth, Louisiana

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PRAYER/SOCIAL/OUTREACH

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Second Sunday Breakfast

POSTPONED TEMPORARILY DUE TO COVID-19 POSTPONED TEMPORARILY DUE TO COVID-19 A program of religious education for children The second Sunday of every month, September ages 2-4. They meet every Sunday in the Youth through June, a complimentary breakfast is Center during the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Facilitator: served following the 8:00 a.m. Mass. Rachel Patin at (318) 625-5614. Pro Life Committee Children’s Liturgy of the Word Meetings are at 6:00 p.m. on the 3rd Monday of POSTPONED TEMPORARILY DUE TO COVID-19 the month to address various pro life issues. During the 10:30 a.m. Sunday Mass, children Contact: Cindy Sayes, (318) 446-2893. ages 3-7 are dismissed during the Liturgy of the Ladies’ Rosary Ministry Word. They return to the worshipping community for the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Women gather in the Church every Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. to pray for our Church and World. First Penance & First Eucharist

If you have a child who is or will be 7 years old LITURGICAL MINISTRIES in the Fall and is expecting to celebrate their first Penance and receive their first Eucharist in the Bereavement Committee

Spring of the next year, the following conditions Provides for the luncheon following the funeral must be met: Attend separate class; one year of a member of our parish family. Contact: Bob- previous religious education, either CCD or bie Long, (318) 442-3578 Catholic School; complete and submit a religious education/CCD registration form; Sacristan

Confirmation Preparation A family, couple or individual that arrives at

If have a child who will be entering 11th grade in least 30 minutes before mass to open up the the Fall and is expecting to celebrate the Sacra- church and ensure everything is prepared for ment of Confirmation in the Spring, the follow- Mass. Contact: Ada Choate (318) 787-3131. ing conditions must be met: A letter handwritten Altar Server by the candidate submitted to the Pastor by Oc- rd tober 1 requesting the Sacrament; submit a com- Any young person in at least the 3 grade, or pleted and signed Sponsor eligibility form; one adult, is invited to serve at the altar during year previous religious education, either CCD or Mass. Training is provided. Contact Deacon Catholic School; attend Sacramental Preparation Paul or Jennifer Montalvo, (337) 704-1892. Classes. Lector/Reader

PRAYER/SOCIAL/OUTREACH The ministry of proclaiming the Word of God is a real gift and blessing. We welcome any adult Prayer Shawl Ministry who has a strong voice and is comfortable in front of people to share God’s word in scripture. POSTPONED TEMPORARILY DUE TO COVID-19 Contact Deacon Paul to share your gifts.

Livestreamed Masses Extraordinary Ministers of Communion

For the benefit of our homebound and/or sick All ministers must be confirmed and in a valid parishioners, we livestream the 7:00 a.m. daily Catholic marriage, recommended by the pastor, Mass and both the 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Sun- and approved by the bishop for a three-year day Masses. To view it click on the YouTube term which is indefinitely renewable. tab at mmjchurch.org.

7 The Third Sunday in Ordinary Time January 23 - January 24, 2021

COVID-19 INFORMATION ANOINTING OF THE SICK

 the people of the Diocese remain dispensed This sacrament should no longer be considered from the obligation to attend Sunday Mass; exclusively for the dying, as in “last rites”. It is

 people are encouraged to wear masks; to be celebrated by and for those whose health has been seriously impaired by illness or old  no more than 75% occupancy; age. Anyone may be anointed before surgery or

 for those who feel obliged to fulfill the Sun- an invasive test or medical procedure. Elderly day obligation, a weekday Mass could ac- people may be anointed if they have become no- complish this; tably weakened even though no serious illness is present. The sacrament may be repeated if the  family members may sit in the same pew; sick person recovers after being anointed and  all ministers should observe proper hygiene then again falls ill or if during the same illness of their hands and cleanse their hands imme- the person’s condition becomes more serious. diately before and after communion; This is one more way that God imparts to each

 give communion with no bodily contact. of us, and in particular at this time to the seri- Gently let the host touch the person’s hand ously ill and elderly his endless love and grace. and drop it in their hand without touching Please contact Fr. Paul if you would like to be them; anointed.

 Communion on the tongue is not encouraged but permitted; AMAZON SMILE

 the chalice with the precious blood is not to be offered;

 the sign of peace can be given by bowing to the other person;

 as people depart from Mass, social distancing must be observed;

When you shop at Amazon, and select Mary, BE NOT AFRAID!! Mother of Jesus as your charitable organization, Amazon will donate 0.5% back to our parish. Smile is the same Amazon you know, same products, same prices, same service. Please support us by shopping at smile.amazon.com. REGISTRATION/CENSUS

Do you consider Mary, Mother of Jesus Parish “home”? Do you worship with us regularly? If you have not done so already, we ask that you please register in our parish. Forms for this purpose are available in the church or online at www.mmjchurch.org. Adult children no longer living at home and recently married couples are especially encouraged to register. In this way we can serve you better. It also facilitates sponsor- ship for baptisms and confirmations, religious education registration, etc.