E P I P H A N Y C A T H O L I C C H U R C H Feast of the Epiphany January 3, 2021

THE VATICAN AND COVID VACCINES page 3

FATHER ERIC’S CHRISTMAS HOMILY Page 9 OUR FEAST DAY children dying before birth, under the guidance of its then FUNERAL MASS director, Professor Bogdan Chazan. The principles were adopted by other hospitals, but some FOR 640 UNBORN BABIES IN POLAND institutions reportedly still store the bodies indefinitely. The coffins contained the bodies Abortion is once again the subject of a heated dispute in Poland after the country’s constitutional court declared Oct. 22 that a law permitting abor- of children who had died follow- tion for fetal abnormalities was unconstitutional. Under a law introduced ing stillbirths, miscarriages and in 1993, abortion is only permitted in Poland in cases of rape or incest, abortions. risk to the mother’s life, or fetal abnormality. Catholic Approximately 1,000 legal abortions take place in the country each year. The vast majority are carried out in cases of fetal abnormality. The ruling, , Poland — A Catholic bishop which cannot be appealed, could lead to a significant reduction in the presided Saturday at a funeral Mass for number of abortions in the country. 640 unborn children in Poland. The ruling sparked nationwide protests, some of which targeted the Cath- Bishop Kazimierz Gurda of Siedlce cele- olic Church. Protesters disrupted Masses while holding signs supporting brated the Mass Dec. 12 in the Church of abortion, left graffiti on Church property, vandalized statues of St. John Holy Trinity in Gończyce, 50 miles south- Paul II, and chanted slogans at clergy. east of the capital, Warsaw. The government responded by delaying publication of the Constitutional In his homily, he said: “These children Tribunal’s ruling, which has no legal power until it appears in the Journal have the right to a worthy burial as they of Laws. Meanwhile, the European Parliament passed a resolution last are persons from the moment of concep- month condemning Poland’s “de facto ban on the right to abortion.” tion. The right to life is a right that cannot be taken away from anyone, including Archbishop Stanisław Gądecki, president of Poland’s bishops’ confer- and above all from a defenseless child in ence, criticized the reso- the womb.” lution. He said: “The right to life is a fundamental “Whoever has received the gift of life human right. It always from God has the right to life and has the takes precedence over right to love. Even if their life story ended the right to choose, be- in a few months, even before they were cause no person can au- born, it doesn’t mean they ceased to ex- thoritatively allow the ist. A person’s life changes, but it doesn’t possibility of killing an- end. Their life goes on. God has pro- other.” longed it for all eternity.” Following the burial of After Mass, the unborn children’s coffins the unborn children in were solemnly buried in a nearby ceme- Gończyce, Bishop Gurda was invited to strike a bell blessed by Pope Fran- tery. The coffins contained the bodies of cis in September, along with others present for the ceremony. children who had died following still- births, miscarriages and abortions. They The Voice of the Unborn bell was commissioned by the Yes to Life Foun- were collected from different hospitals, dation. The bell is decorated with a cast of an ultrasound image of an un- mainly from Warsaw. born child and a quotation from Blessed Jerzy Popiełuszko: “A child’s life begins under the mother’s heart.” The ceremony was the initiative of Maria Bienkiewicz, of the New Nazareth Foun- was the first person to ring the symbolic bell after giving it dation, who has been organizing funerals his blessing in a courtyard in after his general audience. for unborn children since 2005. The pope noted that the bell would “accompany events aimed at remem- That year, the Holy Family Hospital in bering the value of human life from conception to natural death.” “May Warsaw began to put into practice new its peal awaken the consciences of legislators and all people of good will principles for the care of the bodies of in Poland and the whole world.”

Page 2 Epiphanyparish.com objective is only to consider the moral aspects of the use of FROM THE VATICAN the vaccines against Covid-19 that have been developed from cell lines derived from tissues obtained from two fe- THE VATICAN & COVID VACCINATION tuses that were not spontaneously aborted. 1. As the Instruction Dignitas Personae states, in cases where cells from The question of the aborted fetuses are employed to create cell lines for use in scientific re- use of vaccines, in search, “there exist differing degrees of responsibility”[1] of cooperation in general, is often at evil. For example,“in organizations where cell lines of illicit origin are being the center of contro- utilized, the responsibility of those who make the decision to use them is versy in the forum of not the same as that of those who have no voice in such a decision”.[2] public opinion. In recent months, this 2. In this sense, when ethically irreproachable Covid-19 vaccines are not Congregation has available (e.g. in countries where vaccines without ethical problems are received several re- not made available to physicians and patients, or where their distribution quests for guidance is more difficult due to special storage and transport conditions, or when regarding the use of various types of vaccines are distributed in the same country but health vaccines against the SARS-CoV-2 virus authorities do not allow citizens to choose the vaccine with which to be that causes Covid-19, which, in the inoculated) it is morally acceptable to receive Covid-19 vaccines that have course of research and production, em- used cell lines from aborted fetuses in their research and production pro- ployed cell lines drawn from tissue ob- cess. tained from two abortions that occurred 3. The fundamental reason for considering the use of these vaccines mor- in the last century. At the same time, di- ally licit is that the kind of cooperation in evil (passive material coopera- verse and sometimes conflicting pro- tion) in the procured abortion from which these cell lines originate is, on nouncements in the mass media by bish- the part of those making use of the resulting vaccines, remote. The moral ops, Catholic associations, and experts duty to avoid such passive material cooperation is not obligatory if there is have raised questions about the morality a grave danger, such as of the use of these vaccines. the otherwise uncontain- There is already an important pronounce- able spread of a serious ment of the Pontifical Academy for Life pathological agent[3]--in on this issue, entitled “Moral reflections this case, the pandemic on vaccines prepared from cells derived spread of the SARS-CoV-2 from aborted human fetuses” (5 June virus that causes Covid- 2005). Further, this Congregation ex- 19. It must therefore be pressed itself on the matter with the In- considered that, in such a struction Dignitas Personae (September case, all vaccinations rec- 8, 2008, cf. nn. 34 and 35). In 2017, the ognized as clinically safe Pontifical Academy for Life returned to and effective can be used the topic with a Note. These documents in good conscience with the certain knowledge that the use of such vac- already offer some general directive crite- cines does not constitute formal cooperation with the abortion from which ria. the cells used in production of the vaccines derive. It should be empha- sized, however, that the morally licit use of these types of vaccines, in the Since the first vaccines against Covid-19 particular conditions that make it so, does not in itself constitute a legiti- are already available for distribution and mation, even indirect, of the practice of abortion, and necessarily assumes administration in various countries, this the opposition to this practice by those who make use of these vaccines. Congregation desires to offer some indi- cations for clarification of this matter. We 4. In fact, the licit use of such vaccines does not and should not in any way do not intend to judge the safety and effi- imply that there is a moral endorsement of the use of cell lines proceeding cacy of these vaccines, although ethically from aborted fetuses.[4] Both pharmaceutical companies and governmen- relevant and necessary, as this evaluation tal health agencies are therefore encouraged to produce, approve, distrib- is the responsibility of biomedical re- ute and offer ethically acceptable vaccines that do not create problems of conscience for either health care providers or searchers and drug agencies. Here, our Continued on Next Page

Epiphanyschools.org January 3, 2021 Page 3 Continued from Page 3 the people to be vaccinated. CELEBRATING OUR FAITH 5. At the same time, practical reason makes evident that SACRAMENTS SCHEDULE vaccination is not, as a rule, a moral obligation and that, therefore, it must be voluntary. In any case, from the ethi- cal point of view, the morality of vaccination depends not only on the duty to protect one's own health, but also on Mass Times the duty to pursue the common good. In the absence of Incense is used at 10:30am Sunday Mass. All Ministers have other means to stop or even prevent the epidemic, the Gluten-free Hosts. 7:30 am Sunday Masses are Broadcast on common good may recommend vaccination, especially to Facebook at Epiphanyparish.com Drive Up Communion is avail- protect the weakest and most exposed. Those who, how- able Sundays till 8:30am (Canopy). ever, for reasons of conscience, refuse vaccines produced

with cell lines from aborted fetuses, must do their utmost

Sunday, January 3, EPIPHANY OF THE LORD to avoid, by other prophylactic means and appropriate be- 4:00pm Theresa Voirol havior, becoming vehicles for the transmission of the infec- 7:30am Kathy Albee tious agent. In particular, they must avoid any risk to the 10:30am Patrick & Helen O’Rourke (50th anniv.) health of those who cannot be vaccinated for medical or other reasons, and who are the most vulnerable. Monday, January 4, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton 6. Finally, there is also a moral imperative for the pharma- 7:00am Florentine Ripperda ceutical industry, governments and international organiza- tions to ensure that vaccines, which are effective and safe Tuesday, January 5, Saint John Neumann, Bishop from a medical point of view, as well as ethically accepta- 7:00am Steven Schultz ble, are also accessible to the poorest countries in a man- Wednesday, January 6, Christmas Weekday ner that is not costly for them. The lack of access to vac- 7:00am Fr. David Buescher cines, otherwise, would become another sign of discrimi- nation and injustice that condemns poor countries to con- Thursday, January 7, Christmas Weekday tinue living in health, economic and social poverty.[5] 7:00am Susan Lamb The Sovereign Pontiff Francis, at the Audience granted to Friday, January 8, Christmas Weekday the undersigned Prefect of the Congregation for the Doc- 7:00am Charles & Steven Penn trine of the Faith, on 17 December 2020, examined the

Sunday, January 10, BAPTISM OF THE LORD present Note and ordered its publication. 4:00pm Bill & Ruth Harrington , from the Offices of the Congregation for the Doc- 7:30am Sally Leahy trine of the Faith, on 21 December 2020, Liturgical Memo- 10:30am Tom Krause rial of Saint Peter Canisius.

Luis F. Card. Ladaria, S.I., Prefect + S.E. Mons. Giacomo Mo- Confession Time (Saturday) randi, Titular Archbishop of Cerveteri, Secretary 3:00pm Reconciliation in Parish Hall. Please enter [1] Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruction Dignitas Personae (8th from the Corridor and depart out the South Door onto the December 2008), n. 35; AAS (100), 884.

Parking Lot. [2] Ibid, 885. [3] Cfr. Pontifical Academy for Life, “Moral reflections on vaccines prepared from Adoration Chapel News cells derived from aborted human foetuses”, 5th June 2005. Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament has been moved to [4] Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, Instruct. Dignitas Personae, n. 35: Church during the pandemic. Monday to Friday: 7:30am “When the illicit action is endorsed by the laws which regulate healthcare and scientific research, it is necessary to distance oneself from the evil aspects of that to 6pm. system in order not to give the impression of a certain toleration or tacit ac- ceptance of actions which are gravely unjust. Any appearance of acceptance would in fact contribute to the growing indifference to, if not the approval of, such actions in certain medical and political circles”. [5] Cfr. Francis, Address to the members of the "Banco Farmaceutico" founda- tion, 19 September 2020.

Page 4 Epiphanyparish.com Gospel Meditation

“And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.” The light has come into the world in the person of Jesus Christ! We no long- er have to fumble in the darkness. We have been gifted with the illu- mination we need to see our way through things and find what we really are looking for. All these years later, however, so many are still reluctant to accept him. Per- haps they are unconvinced, disin- terested, preoccupied, stubborn, apprehensive, or all of the above. Everyone has their own reason for not wanting to turn on the switch.

But there are so many answers to so many of our problems in this humble Child of Nazareth. A simple birth teaches us about God’s tender wedded relationship with humanity. It speaks to the expanse of God’s salvation across the globe, and the incarnate Divine wonders and bless- ings that are a part of our life mo- ment to moment. It calls us to un- derstand the design of world order God intended as found in the Beati- tudes, the sacredness of every hu- man life and all of creation and the meaning of things we struggle with most, like suffering and death. We have a lot of Good News to share, not just with a privileged few but with all the world. All races and creeds can receive God’s healing word. God continues to manifest himself even now! Use the light to find what you are really looking for!

Epiphanyschools.org January 3, 2021, Page 5 TIME TALENT 2020 CONTRIBUTION STATEMENT Please fill out and return this document if you would like to receive a statement of your contributions to Epiphany Parish. Return it to the par- TREASURE ish office, or place it in the collection basket on your way into church. Email Option: fill in all lines, but print your email address clearly below. The Gift of Family during the Pandemic EMAIL: ______Name: ______What a year it has been! How will we speak of these times a decade from Envelope Number: ______now? As time goes by, our impressions Home Address: ______of this past year will certainly change. How we feel today about dealing with a The Annual Parish Appeal and Annual Diocesan Appeal Statement will be killer virus and all the chaos surround- sent from the Diocese. Tuition Statements can be obtained by logging in ing that is still fresh for all. I would as- to your FACTS account and printing a 2020 summary. Contact Angie in the sume that most of us right now are also Business Office with questions. holding those we love a little closer and hugging them a little harder. Hopefully, even if the fears SHARING IN THE WORK OF GOD and concerns of 2020 dissipate in the future, the way we Thank you for your generosity in support of our mission. feel toward our family should never leave us. Stewardship is certainly about everything. God has given Gifts from Our Parish Family us so much, great and small, profound and common. One of the greatest gifts that all have received is family. The December 27, 2020…………....…………….……$37,913 E-giving…………..…………………….…….…...……….$7,249 bottom line is that, to quote a song from many years ago, Special………………………………….…..….……………...$759 “people need people.” Parish Endowment…..………...………………….…....$205 When God gave the world His only Son, the Incarnation School Endowment…………….…………….....…...... $424 Capital Improvement………….……………..…….…..$130 did not come on a cloud or with a flash of light. He was born into a family. Jesus understood the gift of family all Weekly Budget…………….……………….…...... $24,500 his life. Do you think that if having a family wasn’t im- YTD Budget (26 weeks) …………….….…….….$637,000 portant God would have still included this in the plan of YTD Income……………………………..…...…...... $626,230 salvation? YTD Balance………………………….....…………….($10,770)

PARISH CONTACTS Parish Office Kara Esker (Youth, CCD) (309) 452-2585 [email protected]

Epiphanyparish.com Domine King, Joyce Tellman (Office Staff)

[email protected] School Office (309) 452-3268 Angie O’Connor (Parish/School Books) Epiphanyschools.org [email protected] NOTICE: If you find yourself in Parish Staff Sean and Jennifer Stevens (Music) serious economic need due to Fr. Eric Powell (Pastor) [email protected] the pandemic, St. Vincent de [email protected] Paul and Epiphany Parish want Parish Outreach Deacon Mark Cleary (Baptisms) Orlando Lopez (St. Vincent de Paul) to help. Email Orlando Lopez at [email protected] [email protected] Parish Outreach.

Cindy Myers, Kara Esker (Pastoral Team) [email protected]

Page 6 Epiphanyparish.com keep it on their shelves at this time. Let’s do something PARISH UPDATES about this! Our Epiphany parish has 1200 families. the Knights of Columbus challenges you to donate peanut CATCH UP ON THE LATEST NEWS butter by bringing jars, cases, six packs, etc., as part of our monthly parish food collection. During December and Jan- Epiphany Youth Ministry uary, our Knights of Columbus council will buy a jar for every jar donated up to 1200! One local store sells 18 oz. Epiphany Youth Ministry seeks to offer our youth an en- jars for $1.15. To arrange to have a KC member pickup counter with Christ and build up a community as we fol- canned goods and peanut butter contact John Niebur at low Christ together. To receive Youth Ministry updates, 309-750-4165, leave a name and number and we will call. join our Flocknote group or email kara.esker@epiphany parish.com to be added to the email list! Come Out, Come Out, Wherever You Are! Help Keep Masses Going! The Parish Library is missing many of the DVDs that were handed out with the Holy Week Kits in the spring. Please If you are not at (higher) risk and would be interested in remember to return these DVDs to the library or place helping with directing traffic before and after masses or them in the collection basket so that others may enjoy cleaning after the Masses, please call the parish office or them as well. Thank you! email [email protected]. Discerning Priesthood or Consecrated Life? Women’s Bible Study: “Beholding Your King” The Walking with Purpose Bible study is a women's minis- “They offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” try that involves personal study and small group discus- Is God calling you to give Him the gold of your freedom, sions that link our everyday challenges with the solutions the incense of your prayer, and the myrrh of your love given to us through the teachings of Christ and the Catho- through a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life? lic Church. This 9-week study will focus on King David, Call Fr. Chase Hilgenbrinck at (309) 671-1550, or e- select psalms, the temple, and many Old Testament mail: [email protected]. That our young people prophets and see the ways in which they all point to the will be open to their unique vocation through prayer and coming King of Kings, Jesus Christ. January 12 – March 9, will adore Christ the King by their faithfulness to His call, 2021 we are offering this program virtually. Groups of 5-8 we pray to the Lord.” women will gather online to form a Zoom group. Within Food Collection. Help! each group, a Facilitator and Zoom coordinator will be assigned. An assigned group may opt for a Home Study vs We will come to you! In the midst of the community Zoom and meet at a location. Study books need to be wide spread of Covid19, there is an urgent need to re- bought online: https://walkingwithpurpose.com/shop/ stock the local food banks. Every third Sunday of the books/ To register, please visit the https:// month, Epiphany collects non-perishable items for Saint www.epiphanyparish.com/events web site and scroll Vincent DePaul food pantry. If you would like to contrib- down to Walking with Purpose. Contact Kathleen ute but are unable to bring your non perishable items to [email protected] or Karen [email protected] with church, please contact the Epiphany Knights of Columbus any questions or concerns. 309-750-4165 to arrange pickup of your donation. Pea- nut Butter Urgently Needed. Peanut butter is a staple source of protein for many families. For that reason, there is tremendous need for it at local food pantries. As you might imagine, St. Vincent DePaul Society cannot

January 3, 2021 Page 7 READINGS REFLECTIONS THIS SUNDAY’S SCRIPTURES QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

First Reading: Question: What is the difference between a chastisement and a punishment? In late 6th century BC, the prophet Isaiah proclaimed an unimaginable future of glory for Israel in the wake of Answer: The distinction between chastisement and pun- their return from seventy years of captivity in Babylon. ishment is, in many ways, a subtle one, but which is still What message of hope does our nation need today? relevant in our Catholic tradition. Second Reading: First, chastisement is a concept that is grounded in Sacred Scripture. Here, we see chastisement as a response by Paul speaks of God’s “revelation” to include Gentiles as God to people’s actions that is intended to teach a lesson. “coheirs” and “copartners” with Jews in the divine prom- As St. John Paul II observed, “chastisement appears to be ise fulfilled in Christ Jesus. How welcoming are you to … a kind of divine pedagogy, in which the last word is re- those you consider outsiders? served to mercy: He scourges and then shows mer- Gospel: cy,” (Tobit 13:2). The idea here is that in order to capture our attention or to highlight how we have not lived out The magi’s visit to discover the “newborn king of the our covenant-relationship with God as we should, there Jews” caused great anxiety for the religious leaders of are times when God uses events in life to draw us back. Jerusalem, including King Herod. Why do you think some The concept of punishment, however, has a different people are not open to the good news of Jesus Christ? sense. The Catechism of the Church observes that punish- ment is the consequence of a damaging action that “has EVERYDAY STEWARDSHIP the primary aim of redressing the disorder” and to protect the community and the common good from further dam- RECOGNIZING GOD age or harm (see no. 2266). Punishment isn’t necessarily intended to teach a lesson in the same way that a chas- If you’re on social media, you have probably seen a tisement is. meme going around that features this quote: “God has a plan for your life. The enemy has a plan for your life. Be LIVE THE LITURGY ready for both. Just be wise enough to know which one to battle and which one to embrace.” There were cer- INSPIRATION FOR THE WEEK tainly two competing plans for the Magi: God’s and Herod’s. And, wise as they supposedly were, it wasn’t Even the slightest flicker of a light helps to properly orient entirely easy for the Magi to discern which was which. us when we find ourselves in total darkness. Being in dark- After all, Herod posed as a friend. He offered the Magi ness can be unsettling and even a bit unnerving. We lose hospitality and kindness. Though the Gospel doesn’t say our focus and struggle to find our bearings and achieve so, he probably flattered them and appealed to every balance. On life’s journey we may think we are walking in moral weakness he could observe in them. In his palace, the light but are really lingering in darkness. We do not they must have felt great physical comfort — rest and see the full picture, either because we are distracted, dis- tables of plenty on what was an otherwise long and interested, or even apprehensive. Sometimes, we even treacherous journey. But if the Magi were honest with choose to close our eyes when the light is readily available themselves, I’ll bet they would have admitted that, re- to illuminate our path. Do we really desire to know the gardless of Herod’s charm, they felt a gnawing sense of truth of who we are? In Jesus Christ, a light has been given doubt while in his presence. The Magi were lucky enough to those who dwell in darkness. God’s revelation gives us to have the right plan spelled out for them in a dream, the light to see where we come from, who we are and but for the rest of us, it’s enough to remember this: where we are going. It also tells us that this Good News is God’s plan is often the one that leads us to places of not meant for just a privileged few but is intended to go great simplicity, great humility and great love. out to all the world. Is this something we want to see?

Page 8 Epiphanyparish.com brings us to the heart of the Christmas mystery: Mary gave FROM THE PASTOR us Jesus, and Mary and Joseph received Jesus in poverty. It’s a simple story, isn’t it? But it’s the story of the event CHRISTMAS HOMILY that changes our history forever. Again, Christmas night was a night of crisis, that was preceded by others Mary… Joseph… and followed by many more. To say those names By decree of the Emperor, Mary and Joseph found themselves forced to on this day of days, set out in the census upheaval. They had to leave their people, their home gives me pause. and their land, and to undertake an uncomfortable journey. She, far along And even when pre- in her pregnancy. He, far along in concern for the family—weighed down paring this homily I by the uncertainties and dangers of the road. was moved simply by saying their Within this crisis, they remained nonetheless full of hope and expectation names aloud, why? because of the child about to be born. They knew no one was expecting them. No reception was prepared for them. As St. John records, “He I do understand came to what was his own and his own people did not accept their supporting role in this greatest story him” (Jn 1:11). ever told. Within this crisis, the history changing visitation of God’s love happened. They are human beings just like us. There In Bethlehem, the poor and cast-off of every generation find friends in is no comparison … with God. With … Mary, Joseph, and God in Christ Jesus our Lord. God among us. Brothers and sisters, the faith we proclaim tonight helps us, no, makes us Mary’s is the flesh of the Divine Word. … see God present in all those situations where we think he is absent. God is Assumed forever. present in circumstances. God is present in persons, particularly in the And, from the number of all of our kind, unwelcomed visitor: in the guise of distressed or demeaned humanity, Mary and Joseph are themselves, in their who walks through our cities, our neighborhoods, and quite simply our embrace and in their love, the reception lives, inviting a dignified and humane reception. and poor manger of In the Child of Bethlehem, God comes God’s nativity. They to meet us and console us within the are the bands of crises of our lives. And he makes us cloth. They are the “disciples” and “apostles”—ones warmth and shield sent—to the lives and world around against the ele- us. ments. They are the nurture. They are Like Mary and Joseph who received the protection. They ...and Rebirth him in crisis, God offers himself to us, are the tradition and so that we can take him into our customs of their arms, lift him and embrace him. Make people Israel. a home for him. Then, ennobled and inspired by that Communion, isn’t And they are in crisis that how we then fearlessly, intentionally, lovingly take into our arms and that Christmas night. our cares, raise up and embrace the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the … sick, the imprisoned (cf. Mt 25:35-36). Here, I offer recognition to Orlando Lopez of our Outreach Ministry and St. Vincent De Paul, who with so many Mary gave birth and laid her son, the son others during this pandemic has been helping us help others. of God, in a food trough, because there was no place for Mary, Joseph, and the Isn’t care for the other how we become messengers of hope, and also of son of God except among the barn ani- faith and love. In receiving Jesus Christ, God makes us coworkers. His face. mals. His hands. Especially in the crises of other lives. In these poor, plain and clear words, Luke Brothers and sisters, obviously our pandemic year has been an historic Continued on Next Page Epiphanyschools.org January 3, 2021, Page 9 time of crisis. What are we to make of it and what are we Soon, please God, with the broad use of vaccinations, the to do with it? Here I lean on words from a speech Pope pandemic will recede, and pave the way for us at Epipha- Francis gave on Monday December 21, 2020. ny parish. But for what? What will emerge from our cri- sis, in our Evangelization and Discipleship mission? In The crisis of the pandemic is a fitting time to how we fellowship together again? In how we remain reflect briefly on the meaning of a crisis. A vigilant for the poor? crisis is something that affects everyone and everything. Crises are present everywhere This crisis has no doubt changed your families. Your pray- and in every age of history, involving ideolo- ers and reflections begin there. But please begin to lay gies, politics, the economy, technology, ecolo- the groundwork for our rebooted parish, our life in the gy and religion. … It appears as an extraordi- Spirit, by your prayers and conversations. Pray for Bishop nary event that always creates a sense of Lou, for me, for Deacon Mark, for Kara Esker and Cindy trepidation, anxiety, upset and uncertainty in Myers (pastoral assistants). Pray and encourage our min- the face of decisions to be made. We see this istry heads: Sean and Jennifer, Orlando Lopez, for our in the etymological root of the verb krino: a leaders of Alpha, ACTS, the RCIA, our children’s minis- crisis is the sifting that separates the wheat tries, our school. Where does God want to lead us, now from the chaff after the harvest. that history has been made and changed? … The Bible itself is filled with individuals who Merry Christmas everyone! were “sifted”, “people in crisis” who by that very crisis played their part in the history of salvation. Crises must be seen in the hope and the light brought by the Gospel. We are troubled by crises not simply because we have forgotten how to see them as the Gospel tells us to, but because we have forgotten that the Gospel is the first to put us in crisis. If we can recover the courage and humility to admit that a time of crisis is a time of the Spirit, whenever we are faced with the experience of darkness, weakness, vul- nerability, contradiction and loss, we will no longer feel overwhelmed. Instead, we will keep trusting that things are about to take a new shape, emerging exclu- sively from the experience of a grace hidden in the darkness. “For gold is tested in the fire and those found acceptable, in the furnace of humiliation” (Sir 2:5). Brothers and sisters, Bishop Jenky will retire this year and Bishop Louis will assume responsibility for the diocese.

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Parishioner Luke Hermes and Family

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For ad info. call 1-800-950-9952 • www.4lpi.com Epiphany, Normal, IL A 4C 01-0382