211 Present Street, Missouri City, TX 77489, Phone: 281-969-7236 |Weekly Bulletin Vol. 16 No. 48 December 01, 2013 1st Sunday of Annunciation CHURCH SCHEDULE 25 days fasting begins Holy Mass 8 days fasting begins for the Feast of Immaculate Conception of Our Lady Sunday: 9:00 AM (Malayalam) 10:45 AM (English) Monday - Thursday: 8:30 AM Friday: 7:00 PM [xtÜàç jxÄvÉÅx4 Novena to St. Joseph, our patron Saint Saturday: 9:00 AM Novena to our Mother of Perpetual Help Eucharistic Adoration & Night Vigil Every 1st Friday Starting with the Holy Mass @ 7:00 PM Confession Before and after weekday Masses Charismatic Prayer on Saturdays Adult’s Prayer: at Bl. JP II Home @ 5:00 PM Kids’ Prayer: @ 5:00 PM Jesus Youth Prayer: @ 5:00 PM CCE Classes starts @ 9:00 AM Contact Information Office: 281-969-7236 Vicar: Rev. Fr. Zacharias Thottuvelil Tel: 754 366 6765 Email: [email protected] Trustees: Augustine Vaniapurackal - 832-692-3456 John Babu - 832-520-9500 Rev. Fr. Zacharias Thottuvelil Jose Uthirakulath - 832-233-1480 Our New Vicar Joy Chencheril - 832-577-6375

Ordination and First Mass December 26, 1983 1984 - 1986 Assistant Vicar, St John The Baptist Church, Vadakara, Koothattukulam 1987 - 1988 Assistant Vicar, Palai Cathedral 1989 - 1996 First Vicar, St Thomas Mount Church Nambiarkulam, Kothanalloor 1997 - 2001 Vicar, Little Flower Church , Palakad, Palai (Meenachil) 2001 - 2003 First Chancellor & Secretary of St Thomas Syro Malabar Diocese of Chicago 2003 - 2008 Vicar, St Thomas Church, Garland, TX 2008 - 2013 Vicar, Our Lady of Health Church, Coral Springs, Florida. 2013 - present, Vicar, St. Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Houston, TX Parish Council

Rev. Fr. Zacharias Thottuvelil (Vicar) 754 366 6765 1. Augustine Vaniapurackal -Trustee & ward member - St. Agnes-Lake Olympia & Lake Shore 832-692-3456 2. John Babu -Trustee 832-520-9500 3. Jose Uthirakulathu -Trustee 832-233-1480 4. Joy Chencheril -Trustee & ward member - St. Sebastian- Alief, Sugar Land, Katy 832-577-6375 5. Lisamma Joseph - Ward member - St. Antony's - Stafford 832-576-2136 6. Sunil Kurian - Ward member - St. Augustine-Sugar Land & Missouri City 281-450-4669 7. Vinoy Kurian - Ward member - St. Elizabeth - Riverstone & Colony Lakes 832-886-2566 8. Biju George-Ward member-St. Mathew-New Territory, Telfair, Sugar Land, Avalon Villages 832-455-9005 9. George Joseph - Ward member - St. George - Sharpstown & Westbury 281-844-0048 10. James Viruthukulangara-Ward member-St. Alphonsa-Sienna, Missouri City North, Alvin 713-530-8026 11. Bobby Joseph - Ward member - St. Thomas – Creek Stone 713-972-2620 12. Roychen Joseph - Ward member - Blessed Chavara-North Shore & Spring 713-478-9573 13. Bose Kurian - Nominated member 832-545-0054 14. Jose Manakalathil - Nominated member 281-731-4570 Saint Joseph, 15. Salby Vincent - Nominated member 281-818-3733 16. Sabeena Roncy - Nominated member 832-475-9962 17. Stacy Ouseph - Nominated member 832-453-5260 our Patron saint, 18. Sr. Agnes Maria- CCE Coordinator 917-741-9948 19. Geo Thayil - SJYAL member 281-630-8185 Pray for us! 20. Manju Maliekkal - Church Organizations 832-656-6335 21. Rev. Sr. Emilin MSMI - Pastoral Services 832-287-2926 22. Paul Joseph - Pastoral Council member 281-728-3222 23. Jessy Kurian - Pastoral Council members - 281-857-6572

1st Friday Night Vigil & Adoration

On Next Friday, December 06, 2013, After 7:00 PM Holy Mass

Liturgical Calendar; 1st week of Annunciation 1 Sun X First Sunday of Annunciation;25 days fasting begins. ALTAR SERVERS Gen17:15:22 (17:1-27) I will bless Sarah and I will give you a son by her December 06, Friday Is 43:1-7,10-11 (42:18-43:13) O Israel I have redeemed you Eph 5:21-6:4 The Christian household Joe Arackal, Cyril Simon, Kriston Gloria, Lk 1:5-25 (1:1-25) The birth of John the Baptist foretold Bryan Chacko 2 Mon Rom 13:11-14 It is now the moment for you to wake up from sleep December 07, Saturday Lk 1:18-20 The unbelief of Zechariah 3 Tue; Feast of St. Jeswin Gloria, Kriston Gloria, Daniel Dt 26:16-19 You are a holy people Chakkramakil, & David John Is 45:20-24 There is no God besides me 2 Cor 6:3-10 We are God’s servants December 08, Sunday Mk 6:7-13 Jesus sends out His disciples Malayalam Mass @ 9:00 AM 4 Wed 1Cor 1:4-9 God is faithful Lk 1:21-25 Elizabeth sings praise of God Sam Kurian & Kurian Pannappara 5 Thu Heb 13: 8-16 Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings English Mass @ 10:45 AM Mt 24:45-51 Blessed is that slave whom his master will find at work when he arrives 6 Fri First Friday Daniel Chakkramakil, David John Col 3:1-10 Seek the things that are above Ben Tony & Nikhil Joseph Mt 13:12-17 The pupose of the parables 7 Sat Col 1:15-20 The supremacy of Jesus LECTORS Mt 12:14-21God’s chosen servant 8 Sun X Feast of Immaculate Conception of Our Lady December 08, Sunday Sir 24:1-14 (24:1-34) The greatness of wisdom Malayalam Mass @ 9:00 AM Wis 8:1-10 (7:21-8:10) Wisdom is the source of blessing Heb 1:1-3+2:16-18 God’s son 1st reading: George Kurian Lk 1:46-55 (Mt.1:1-17+Lk. 1:46-55) The magnificat XSecond Sunday of Annunciation 2nd reading: Sheeja Varghese Num 22:20-35 (22:20-23:2) Balaam gets instructions from the angel Is 43:25-44:5 (43:14-44:5) Restoration and protection promised to Israel English Mass @ 10:45 AM Col 4:2-6 (4:2-18) Make use of your time fully 1st reading: Geo Roncy Lk 1:26-38 (1:26-56) Birth of Jesus is announced 2nd reading: Angela Baby

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX December 01,2013 CONTINUING CHRISTIAN EDUCATION (CCE) IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS !!!  Grand Reception: CCE students and staff holds reception for Rev. Fr. Zacharias Thottuvelil, our new vicar after the CCE class.  Confession for 6th Grade on next Saturday (12/07)  Ecumenical Christmas Celebration: This years Ecumenical Christmas Celebration is on December 7, at St Thomas Orthodox Church on 5th Street.  Link to Xmas Caroling Song: stjosephhouston.org/index.cfm?load=page&page=187

Period of Annunciation

The liturgical year of the Syro-Malabar Church begins with the period of Annunciation. The four weeks in preparation to the feast of the Nativity of Jesus, celebrated on 25th December constitute this season. Since we practice abstinence from 1st to 25th December in preparation for Christmas, we call this period “25 days Lent”.

The salvific acts which found fulfillment in Jesus Christ begin with the birth of Jesus. This season is called ‘subbara’ in Syriac language. The meaning of this term is ‘declaration, ‘announcement’ etc. What angel Gabriel announced to holy Mary was the greatest glad news to humanity that eagerly waited for the Savior. Thus, this season is developed in the context of the mystery of incarnation completed in the fullness of time. The Church recalls during these days the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist, the predecessor of Jesus, and also the joyful event of the birth of John the Baptist.

As a preparation for the celebration of the mystery of incarnation, this season also recalls creation, disobedience of our first parents and its consequences, the miserable state of the broken humanity, the promise of salvation offered by God, God’s covenant with humanity, and the prophecies about the Savior. During this season we also meditate on the role of Mary in the history of the plan of salvation. The readings, prayers and hymns of the season remind us that like the people in the Old Testament who became aware of their miserable condition and their hope for the Savior, the people of the New Testament also should become aware of their helplessness and sinful situation and walk towards Jesus and give place in their hearts for Jesus to be born.

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX December 01,2013 IPSF-2014 Inter Parish Sports Festival

@ Holy Family Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Oklahoma City

March: 14 - 16, 2014

Registration Form available online: http://stjosephhouston.org

HEARTY WELCOME, Rev. Fr. ZACHARIAS THOTTUVELIL, Our New Vicar!

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX December 01,2013 Pope Francis: homily at Year of Faith closing Mass

Today’s solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe, the crowning of the liturgical year, also marks the conclusion of the Year of Faith opened by Pope Benedict XVI, to whom our thoughts now turn with affection and gratitude. By this providential initiative, he gave us an opportunity to rediscover the beauty of the journey of faith begun on the day of our Baptism, which made us children of God and brothers and sisters in the Church. A journey which has as its ultimate end our full encounter with God, and throughout which the Holy Spirit purifies us, lifts us up and sanctifies us, so that we may enter into the happiness for which our hearts long. I offer a cordial greeting to the Patriarchs and Major Archbishops of the Eastern Catholic Churches present. The exchange of peace which I will share with them is above all a sign of the appreciation of the Bishop of Rome for these communities which have confessed the name of Christ with exemplary faithfulness, often at a high price. With this gesture, through them, I would like to reach all those Christians living in the Holy Land, in Syria and in the entire East, and obtain for them the gift of peace and concord. The Scripture readings proclaimed to us have as their common theme the centrality of Christ. Christ as the center of creation, the center of his people and the center of history. 1. The apostle Paul, in the second reading, taken from the letter to the Colossians, offers us a profound vision of the centrality of Jesus. He presents Christ to us as the first-born of all creation: in him, through him and for him all things were created. He is the center of all things, he is the beginning. God has given him the fullness, the totality, so that in him all things might be reconciled (cf. Col 1:12-20). This image enables to see that Jesus is the center of creation; and so the attitude demanded of us as true believers is that of recognizing and accepting in our lives the centrality of Jesus Christ, in our thoughts, in our words and in our works. When this center is lost, when it is replaced by something else, only harm can result for everything around us and for ourselves. 2. Besides being the center of creation, Christ is the center of the people of God. We see this in the first reading which describes the time when the tribes of Israel came to look for David and anointed him king of Israel before the Lord (cf. 2 Sam 5:1-3). In searching for an ideal king, the people were seeking God himself: a God who would be close to them, who would accompany them on their journey, who would be a brother to them. Christ, the descendant of King David, is the “brother” around whom God’s people come together. It is he who cares for his people, for all of us, even at the price of his life. In him we are all one; united with him, we share a single journey, a single destiny. 3. Finally, Christ is the center of the history of the human race and of every man and woman. To him we can bring the joys and the hopes, the sorrows and troubles which are part of our lives. When Jesus is the center, light shines even amid the darkest times of our lives; he gives us hope, as he does to the good thief in today’s Gospel. While all the others treat Jesus with disdain – “If you are the Christ, the Messiah King, save yourself by coming down from the cross!” – the thief who went astray in his life but now repents, clinging to the crucified Jesus, begs him: “Remember me, when you come into your kingdom” (Lk 23:42). And Jesus promises him: “Today you will be with me in paradise” (v. 43). Jesus speaks only a word of forgiveness, not of condemnation; whenever anyone finds the courage to ask for this forgiveness, the Lord does not let such a petition go unheard. Jesus’ promise to the good thief gives us great hope: it tells us that God’s grace is always greater than the prayer which sought it. The Lord always grants more than what he has been asked: you ask him to remember you, and he brings you into his Kingdom! Let us ask the Lord to remember us, in the certainty that by his mercy we will be able to share his glory in paradise. Amen! Source: Vatican.va

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX December 01,2013 ENCYCLICAL LETTER :LUMEN FIDEI (The light of Faith) OF THE SUPREME PONTIFF FRANCIS

Knowledge of the truth and love

28. This discovery of love as a source of knowledge, which is part of the primordial experience of every man and woman, finds authoritative expression in the biblical understanding of faith. In savouring the love by which God chose them and made them a people, Israel came to understand the overall unity of the divine plan. Faith-knowledge, because it is born of God’s covenantal love, is knowledge which lights up a path in history. That is why, in the Bible, truth and fidelity go together: the true God is the God of fidelity who keeps his promises and makes possible, in time, a deeper understanding of his plan. Through the experience of the prophets, in the pain of exile and in the hope of a definitive return to the holy city, Israel came to see that this divine "truth" extended beyond the confines of its own history, to embrace the entire history of the world, beginning with creation. Faith-knowledge sheds light not only on the destiny of one particular people, but the entire history of the created world, from its origins to its consummation. Faith as hearing and sight 29. Precisely because faith-knowledge is linked to the covenant with a faithful God who enters into a relationship of love with man and speaks his word to him, the Bible presents it as a form of hearing; it is associated with the sense of hearing. Saint Paul would use a formula which became classic: fides ex auditu, "faith comes from hearing" (Rom 10:17). Knowledge linked to a word is always personal knowledge; it recognizes the voice of the one speaking, opens up to that person in freedom and follows him or her in obedience. Paul could thus speak of the "obedience of faith" (cf. Rom 1:5; 16:26).[23] Faith is also a knowledge bound to the passage of time, for words take time to be pronounced, and it is a knowledge assimilated only along a journey of discipleship. The experience of hearing can thus help to bring out more clearly the bond between knowledge and love. At times, where knowledge of the truth is concerned, hearing has been opposed to sight; it has been claimed that an emphasis on sight was characteristic of Greek culture. If light makes possible that contemplation of the whole to which humanity has always aspired, it would also seem to leave no space for freedom, since it comes down from heaven directly to the eye, without calling for a response. It would also seem to call for a kind of static contemplation, far removed from the world of history with its joys and sufferings. From this standpoint, the biblical understanding of knowledge would be antithetical to the Greek understanding, inasmuch as the latter linked knowledge to sight in its attempt to attain a comprehensive understanding of reality. This alleged antithesis does not, however, correspond to the biblical datum. The Old Testament combined both kinds of knowledge, since hearing God’s word is accompanied by the desire to see his face. The ground was thus laid for a dialogue with Hellenistic culture, a dialogue present at the heart of sacred Scripture. Hearing emphasizes personal vocation and obedience, and the fact that truth is revealed in time. Sight provides a vision of the entire journey and allows it to be situated within God’s overall plan; without this vision, we would be left only with unconnected parts of an unknown whole. (source: http://www.vatican.va/)

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX December 01,2013 SAINT OF THE WEEK: St. FRANCIS XVIER FEAST DAY: December 03 Born in the family castle of Xavier, near in the Basque area of Spanish on Apr. 7, he was sent to the University of Paris 1525, secured his licentiate in 1528, met Ignatius Loyola and became one of the seven who in 1534, at Montmartre founded the . In 1536 he left Paris to join Ignatius in Venice, from whence they all in tended to go as missionaries to Palestine (a trip which never materialized), was ordained there in 1537, went to Rome in 1538, and in 1540, when the pope formally recognized the Society, was ordered, with Fr. Simon Rodriguez, to the Far East as the first Jesuit missionaries. King John III kept Fr. Simon in Lisbon, but Francis, after a year's voyage, six months of which were spent at Mozambique where he preached and gave aid to the sick eventually arrived in Goa, India in 1542 with Fr. Paul of Camerino an Italian, and Francis Mansihas, a Portuguese. There he began preaching to the natives and attempted to reform his fellow Europeans, living among the natives and adopting their customs on his travels. During the next decade he converted tens of thousands to Christianity. He visited the Paravas at the tip of India. near Cape Comorin, Tuticorin (1542), Malacca (1545), the Moluccas near New Guinea and Morotai near the Philippines (1546-47), and Japan (1549- 51). In 1551, India and the East were set up as a separate province and Ignatius made Francis its first provincial. In Saints of the week: 1552 he set out for China, landed on the island of Sancian within sight of his goal, but Dec 1 St. Eligius died before he reached the mainland. Working against great difficulties, language Dec 2 St. Bibiana problems ( contrary to legend, he had no proficiency in foreign tongues ), inadequate Dec 3 St. Francis Xavier funds, and lack of cooperation, often actual resistance, from European officials, he left Dec 4 St. John of Damascus Dec 5 St. Sabas the mark of his missionary zeal and energy on areas which clung to Christianity for Dec 6 St. Nicholas centuries. He was canonized in 1622 and proclaimed patron of all foreign missions by Dec 7 St. Maria Giuseppe Rossello Pope Pius X. Feast Day - Dec. 3.

Read this bulletin online: www.stjosephhouston.org | Published by: Vicar, St Joseph Syro Malabar Catholic Church, Missouri City, TX) December 01, 2013