St. Church Established in 1894 Proclaiming the Good News of our Savior Jesus Christ from the little church on the hillside of Lenni.

Church is open daily from 9:00 am—4:30 pm for private visits. ALL SUNDAY MASS VIDEOS CONTINUE TO BE POSTED AT SFDSLENNI.ORG. January 3, 2021 Feast of the Epiphany Mass Schedule and Intentions Saturday, January 2, 5:00 pm — Lydia Mira Mercado Sunday, January 3, 8:00 am — Mary Slesicki (102nd birthday) Sunday, January 3, 10:30 am — Sarah Roccuzzo Monday, January 4, 8:30 am — Mary Jo Huppman Tuesday, January 5, 8:30 am — Fr. William Kane 2nd Pastor SFDS 1903—1910 Wednesday, January 6 — No Mass / No Communion Service Thursday, January 7, 8:30 am — Mary Jo Huppman Friday, January 8, 8:30 am — Priscilla Portare Saturday, January 9, 8:30 am — Patrick McCabe Saturday, January 9, 5:00 pm — Wanda Hunt

PLEASE REMEMBER TO WEAR YOUR MASK IN CHURCH AND FOR CONFESSION. Confessions each Saturday afternoon from 4:00—4:45 pm or by appointment Refer and Reflect

OUR WEEKLY OFFERING RECTORY 610.459.2203 Due to the holidays, the transmission date/time for 35 New Road, Box 97, Lenni, PA 19052 this bulletin was before Christmas. A December Website—www.SFDSLenni.org update will be published next week.

[email protected] Thank you Reverend Alan J. Okon, Pastor Thank You for your ongoing generosity through Deacon Paul A. Quinn Online Giving and use of church envelopes! Your gift to SFDS throughout the year is received Sr. Betty Kirk O.S.F. 610.459.0554 with a grateful heart and is deeply appreciated. Parish Services Director Please visit our website at sfdslenni.org to sign up for Sr. Anne Marie Stegmaier I.H.M. online giving. Parish Giving offers secure flexible online giving for our parishioners who would like to Director Religious Education 610.500.4088 make their donations online using a credit card or Mrs. Marie McGonigal 610.459.2203 bank transfer. You never have to bring cash or Administrative Assistant checks to church. Giving electronically also helps the church save money and plan the budget. Tammy McDonald 610.459.2203 Communications Secretary E-mail– [email protected] Art Kahn, Business Manager 610.459.2203 CONVENT 610.459.2501 28 New Road, Aston, PA 19014 EDUCATION CENTER 39 New Road, Aston, PA 19014

Directory of Parish Organizations Adult Choir Nancy Brown 610.358.3112 Adult Ed/RCIA Sr. Anne Marie 610.500.4088 Altar Society Phil D'Orazio 610.459.0635 Cancer Care Ministry Lydia Lill 610.358.2627 Church Environment Barbara Jones 610.566.4149 CYO Paula Bonsall 610.517.6136 Eucharistic Ministers Tracy Boyle 610.566.8453 Finance Committee Fr. Okon 610.459.2203 Ladies' Club Belle Miller 610.513.2920 Lectors Joanne Sunick 610.459.1996 Liturgy Committee Sr. Betty Kirk 610.459.0554 Men’s Group Steve DeLozier 484.574.4425 Pastoral Council Fr. Okon 610.459.2203 Prayer Shawl Ministry Ann Fernandez 215.203.6697 Social/Fellowship 610.459.2203 Social/Outreach Cathy Hawes 484.326.6232 Web Master Arlene Petragnani 610.558.0588 Pleaser pray for the sick of our parish and those who care Welcome Committee Rita DiFebo 610.459.8971 for them. Chrissy Ferris, Bruce McManus, Women's Prayer Group Sr. Betty Kirk 610.459.0554 Greg Miller, Kevin Duckett, Dorothy Tait, Belle Miller, Rivera, Josh Farrell, Mary Ann Gilbert, Marilyn Kane, Theresa Sherwin All those suffering with the Coronavirus Lord, Hear Our Prayer

Page 2 - 105 St. Francis de Sales SUNDAY MASS SCHEDULE Announced Masses for 2021 Saturday Vigil at 5:00 pm In keeping with our current Sunday Morning at 8:00 am and 10:30 am protocol for the Parish Office, The church will be open to parishioners for private Mass Cards can be obtained by: prayer daily from 9:00 am—4:30 pm i Completing the form (found on the website, or at the doors of A video of Father Okon’s Sunday Mass will be posted church). Return the form and on the parish website (SFDSLenni.org) and Facebook Mass stipend by mail, in the page ( Francis de Sales Church-Aston). collection basket or in the Parish Office The dispensation from the obligation to attend Sunday mailbox beside the office door. Mass is not lifted at this time. Those elderly or compromised for health reasons and those not comfortable i We will do our best to accommodate your with being in a crowd may continue to watch live request. If you wish a Mass Card, you will streamed/recorded Mass. All are encouraged to observe be notified when it will be available for you the Sabbath by spending time as a family reading the in the Parish Office mailbox or you may Sunday Scriptures (available at https://bible.usccb.org/), request that it be sent in the mail. attending /viewing the Sunday Mass, and enjoying family i Questions? Contact the Parish Office by time. email ([email protected]) or  Please see the front of the bulletin for Mass phone. schedule and intentions.  In accordance with directives from the Archdiocese and CDC, masks/face coverings are to BASIC BELIEFS OF be worn while in church. CHRISTIANITY  At this time, Communion is distributed on the The Rite of Christian hand only. Initiation of Adults is the Please watch our parish website for additional normal way that adults updates. become full, active,

participating members of the .

If you are interested in learning more about

becoming a Catholic or are an adult who was not Parish Office Information confirmed, we invite you to contact: Office hours are: Sister Anne Marie at [email protected] or 610- Monday—Thursday 500-4088 for more information. Open 9:00 am—1:00 pm; Open 1:30—4:30 pm Our program runs year round; you are welcome to CLOSED 1:00—1:30 pm CLOSED FRIDAYS join at any time.

Most parish business will be conducted as curbside business. Contact the parish office by email or phone ([email protected] (610)459-2203) Your request will be filled and placed in the mailbox attached to the left wall beside the Office door and you will be notified when it will be available for pickup. If you need to drop something off, please use the same mailbox. For more information visit our website, Scrip Gift Cards for our local food stores are always www.sfdslenni.org. or Facebook Page at Saint Francis available in $100 and $50 increments. You get cards de Sales Church-Aston. Kindly contact us at for the amount you purchase and the parish [email protected] with any changes in receives a percentage which helps the parish your family information, such as a new address budget. This is a great way to budget your food (physical or e-mail), phone number, change (s) in spending. Forms are available on our website and at household members, Sacramental updates for any the church doors. Drop off your order form and family member, etc. We depend on you to help keep our data base current. Many thanks! payment in the collection basket or parish office mailbox. You will be contacted when pick up is Send Correspondence for the Bulletin 10 days ready. Everyone needs to visit the grocery store and before publication to: [email protected]. remember, your purchase also helps our parish, Thank you for reading this bulletin. which earns a percentage of all sales!

Page 3 - 105 St. Francis de Sales Questions for the Week January 3, 2021 – Feast of the Epiphany

January 3, 2021—Feast of the Epiphany From boyhood I have always loved the Epiphany story, Reading I: 60: 1-6 God radiates perhaps because the magi manage to bring a touch of the light inside the city, so darkness exotic and color to the stable scene of the first Christmas. surrenders, so to speak, in Jerusalem. All Their very arrival after a presumably long, dangerous the nations come together to rebuild the journey has always underscored the attractive power and city, including people associated with from authentic divinity of the baby Jesus. Also, the stark the Arabian peninsula. Where do you see God’s light contrast the gift bearers make with the humble homespun around you? couple and their newborn has always struck me with how God acts in ways that challenge our expectations. Psalm 72: Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. Take time to adore God this week! Of course, we should not be surprised how often God Reading II: Ephesians 3: 2-3a, 5-6 Paul’s great does this, thoroughly upsetting our ideas about “how insight into the mystery of Christ is that He wills the things ought to be.” When our notions clash with His, urging us to ask for Him to change His decision, He simply Gentile nations to be full participants in the Church. Its refers to His prior admission that “My ways are not yours” very foundation is based on Christ and the prophets and the added codicil “Learn from Me.” and especially the Apostles. Are you aware of groups or individuals who have trouble interacting or lack We could ask “Shouldn’t the wise men have pooled their unity? What could you do to help? resources to set up this young couple and their child in the best room at the inn?” Not a proper question albeit a The Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-2 The magi were a group natural one. We have to accept God the Father’s “No” to who did things like interpret dreams, or work in that. astrology and magic. Above all, they represent the Gentile world coming to Christ. Their gifts have To that we add the vexing question for the Jews at that time: “Why does Yahweh allow these gentiles to receive a meaning, so gold represents kingship; incense divinity warm welcome from God when we are His chosen and myrrh suffering. Or they can be interpreted Virtue, people?” A hard pill for them to swallow as they heard this Prayer, and Suffering. What treasures (material or story. spiritual) are you being called to place at the service of Christ? Inevitably we come to think about our personal failure in at least one aspect of our lives. One would think that after Visit exploringthesundayreadings.com all this time, all these centuries since the Bethlehem event, and the clear teaching of the grown up Nazarene, we would not still be guilty of racial prejudice. And what about this PARISH RELIGIOUS EDUCATION awful habit of practically naming ourselves “God’s UPDATE January 3, 2020 selected ones” all the time forgetting the petty betrayal of Him involved in our every sin? One could analyze that First Reconciliation for our second graders is each sin of ours is like a spike of rough straw chafing an during the month of December; First Communions infant’s skin. or like a thorn crowning a condemned God- will be in April. Man’s sacred head. Confirmation for 7th graders is Thursday, April We have our work cut out for us, as in our imaginations 29, 2021. we rise up from our knees behind the wise men when they We are participating in SMILE Train again this stand up. We know they won’t be going back to Herod year through mid January. Please send with any report. Nor will they take the same route home. contributions to the attention of Sister Anne Marie Nobody who has seen Christ goes away the same. They will (mail, drop in parish office mailbox or collection basket.) have learned without any words from the Holy Infant what

Our next outreach is Joy of Sox. Please it takes to be truly wise. All of this is what makes the see information on page 5 of this bulletin. Epiphany celebration wonderful. Our Eastern rite brothers and sisters celebrate this day more than The next drive-by for Unit 3 materials has been Christmas. It is the day our God revealed Himself as delayed by a back up with the postal system due to Someone available to everybody and not to just one race. COVID; we expect materials to arrive soon. You When I find myself tempted to join the growing number will be notified. of cynics in the world beyond my front door, who seem more aggressive these days than we are in spreading their May 2021 be a year of blessings for you and your convictions, I can recall this scene for comfort. In my mind family! We expect to continue with our at home I see the weary camels shaking the tiny bells in their livery. format for the foreseeable future. I hear rustling silk in the apparel of the extraordinary Contact Sister Anne Marie: [email protected] or 610 travelers from the East. I smell the aroma of incense -500-4088. God bless you and keep you safe! competing with the stink of the stable. And I see the look of delight on that tiny Face which I believe with all my heart to be my God’s countenance. May that same God love you throughout this New Year and give you His peace Reflection by Rev. Peterson

Page 4 - 105 St. Francis de Sales Anniversary Books, Memory Sticks, and Ornaments are still available. These items make wonderful Now more than gifts for your Family and Friends. ever there is a great need for donations of food. Become a Caring Check out the promotional video on Cook, take home an aluminum casserole pan, (found sfdslenni.org near the doors of church), make your favorite This uniquely designed book is full of Saint Francis casserole, label the ingredients, freeze and return to history, interesting facts, personal stories, and great pictures. The video, copied on a memory/USB stick, is the freezer outside of the Fr. Walsh Center. All something you will treasure!! It includes personal nonperishable food donated along with the frozen stories and testimonies from our parishioners and staff casseroles will be taken to the Saint Katherine both past and present. These two masterpieces of Drexel Food Pantry. Thank you for your continued antiquity are full of memories to be shared. Anyone who generosity to this ministry still wishes to purchase a Book, Ornament, or Video may email or call the Parish Office and arrangements WINTER OUTREACH MINISTRY can be made to pick up from the office mailbox. New Socks for the Homeless Anniversary Book—$25.00 Ornament—$10.00 The SFDS Outreach Ministry is inviting Video on USB/ Memory Stick—$20.00 everyone in the parish to help the Please Make Checks payable to: Saint Francis de Sales Purchase these items when bundled at over 35% homeless by bringing a new pair of socks for men, Discount women or children to the Father Walsh Center Anniversary Book, Video, and Ornament for between January 3 and February 28. The socks will $40 be sent to “THE JOY OF SOX” – a locally founded Book and Ornament—$30 Video and 501©(3) nonprofit with the sole (no pun intended) Ornament—$25 mission of providing joy to the homeless by giving Email/call the parish office them new socks. Thank you for your support of the parish! A homeless man once said it best, “Socks can be more important than food”. Homeless people The Prayer Groups will often wear their socks 24/7. With cold, wet socks continue to meet in the Father feet often get infected, diseased and it is very painful to walk. Socks are desperately needed and are very Walsh Center on Wednesday rarely ever donated. Morning at 9:15 AM and on HELP THE HOMELESS- DONATE A NEW Wednesday Evening at 7:00 PM. PAIR OF SOCKS - THANK YOU! Our next meeting date is January 13th. This year we are also collecting woolen Hats and Mittens (gloves). Please bring all items to the Fr. Walsh Center.

Pope Francis Did you know you can support the CCA while shopping on Amazon? AmazonSmile Proclaims allows you to chose the charity of your “Year of choice to receive 0.5% of your purchases. St. ” Just head to smile.amazon.com, choose Catholic Charities Appeal on the list of charities, and shop! In a new Apostolic Letter entitled Patris corde (“With a Father’s Heart”), Francis describes as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient father, an accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, a father in the shadows. The Letter marks the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of St Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church. To celebrate the anniversary, has proclaimed a special “Year of St Joseph,” beginning on the December 8, Solemnity of the 2020 and extending to the same feast in 2021.

Page 5 - 105 St. Francis de Sales The Year of St. Joseph On the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Holy Father proclaimed the "Year of St. Joseph." The year began on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception 2020 and extends to the same feast in 2021. Pope Francis shares his beautiful reflections x Rosary in English: Every week, Monday on St. Joseph in the new Apostolic Letter named, through Thursday Nights at 8 PM - until further notice. “With a Father’s Heart.” He shares that his intent (Family Rosary in English on Tuesdays and with the proclamation: "The aim of this Apostolic Wednesdays at 8 PM) Letter is to increase our love for this great saint, x Rosario en español: Cada jueves a las 8 PM to encourage us to implore his intercession and to (Nuevo horario proximamente…) imitate his virtues and his zeal." We encourage http://www.phillyevang.org/rosary everyone to read the Holy Father's letter. The Holy Father reflects on St. Joseph and the meaning of Lifelines Mother’s Home fatherhood. Malvern Retreat House has a unique Crisis Pregnancy Hotline 610.583.HOME connection to St. Joseph and we know this year will 610.626.4006 www.mothershome.org be a grace-filled time for Malvern and our guests. Pro-Life Union of Delaware County We are planning activities, reflections and retreat Delaware County Pregnancy Center days to honor St. Joseph throughout the year! Stay 610.789.LIFE www.dcpchester.org tuned and visit our website page! Rachel’s Vineyard www.prolifedelco.org Ministries Join Missionary Childhood AssociaƟon for a A Baby’s Breath 1.877.HOPE4ME Virtual Mission Day! 484.580.6436 (Post-abortion healing) January 8, 2021 9AM to 11AM 24hr hotline www.rachelsvineyard 484.571.5540 .org In honor of Pauline Jaricot, founder of the Society of Hope in Christ Spiritual the PropagaƟon of the Faith, who we celebrate on www.ababysbreath.org Support for Addiction archphila.org/hope January 9th, this Mission-focused morning will include tesƟmony from Missionaries around the world, a special message from Archbishop Pérez, a virtual praying of the World Mission Rosary, Games and much more! Students in Grades 4th through 8th from all schools around the Archdiocese are welcome.

Please sign up using the link below : hƩps://forms.gle/Umk1ybYyuJPQmHYTA

February 12-14, 2021 Event: RETROUVAILLE: REDISCOVER THE LOVE IN YOUR MARRIAGE Tens of thousands of couples have healed their marriages through Retrouvaille (pronounced Retro-vy). The next program begins the weekend of February 12 - 14, 2021 at the Family Life Center in Malvern, PA. For more information, or to register, visit www.HelpOurMarriage.org or call 215-766-3944 or 800-470-2230. All inquiries are strictly confidential.

Page 6 - 105 St. Francis de Sales Parish Registration Welcome to our family of St. Francis de Sales. We are happy to welcome new members into our community. We invite you to be a vital part of our family and hope you will support your parish with your prayers, your presence and your talents. Please contact the Parish Office at 610.459.2203 to make arrangements for registration. If you move out of our parish, or have changed your phone number, please contact the Parish Office so we can update our data base.

Sacrament of Baptism Congratulations on the birth of your child. The Sacrament of Baptism is normally administered after the 11:30 AM Mass on Sunday. Pre-Jordan class for Parish Office Hours the parents is required prior to the scheduling of the Baptism. Parents may attend the class before the The Parish Office is open for business baby is born. Pre-Jordan class is held on the second Monday through Thursday, 9:00AM to Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM. Please contact 4:30PM, closed 1:00 –1:30. The office is the Parish Office at 610.459.2203 to register for the CLOSED on Fridays until further notice Pre-Jordan class. To schedule a Baptism, please due to the Coronavirus situation. have already obtained the certificates of eligibility Weeknights and Saturdays are by and then contact the Parish Office at least two weeks appointment only. Please refer in advance. elsewhere in the bulletin for holiday

Ceertificates of Eligibility hours. Congratulations on being asked to be a sponsor at either a Baptism or a Confirmation. You have been asked to be a witness to, and role model of, your Catholic faith. A sponsor is a Roman Catholic who has Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick received the Sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist and and Holy Communion Confirmation, is an active registered member of his Please call the Parish Office at 610.459.2203 to or her parish, at least 16 years of age, and if married is in a Sacramental Marriage. Please contact the schedule an appointment for the Anointing of Parish Office at [email protected] or the Sick. Every effort will be made to celebrate 610.459.2203 to request a certificate. the Sacrament of the Sick within 48 hours of it being requested. Please call the Parish Office Sacrament of Reconciliation to request a visit from an Extra Ordinary The Sacrament of Reconciliation is Minister of Holy Communion to receive the Holy celebrated each Saturday afternoon from Eucharist on Sunday mornings. 4:00 to 4:45, or by appointment. Funeral Arrangements Elementary Catholic School Education We are very sorry for the loss of your loved one. SFDS Parish supports our parishioners who To make funeral arrangements, please first have chosen an Elementary Catholic School meet with your Funeral Director to discuss your for their children. SFDS Parish has open wishes and their availability. The Funeral enrollment, enabling parents to select a Director will contact our Parish Office to regional or parish school that is of their coordinate the date and time of the funeral. choice. For parishioners who are present, Once the funeral has been scheduled, Fr. Okon active and contributing members, for a will call you to schedule a time to meet and plan minimum of one year, SFDS Parish will pay a the Liturgy. subsidy of $1000.00 per student. Page 7 - 105 St. Francis de Sales Delaware County’s Oldest Established Funeral Home Carlson’s Birthright AILEEN “It is the right of every pregnant woman to give Autobody birth, and the right of every child to be born.” CAMPBELL Birthright Charter ATTORNEY AT LAW Inc. 112 S. High Street 1187 W. Baltimore Pike West Chester, PA 19382 Wills • Estates MINSHALL 610-436-0773 Employment • Real Estate Lima, PA 19037 Business Transactions SHROPSHIRE - BLEYLER 529 E. Lincoln Highway Coatesville, PA 19320 FUNERAL HOME, LTD. (610) 566-6320 610-384-3020 (610) 420-1647 Normanman C. C Shropshire, ShropshireShropshire Su Supervisorpervisor MMichael ichael Aa Aaronron Ok OkonOkon,on Fu Funeralneral DireDirecDirector www.carlsonsautobodylima.com Carmella Imburgia, Funeral Director, Parish Member Free & Confi dential Call for Free Initial Pregnancy Services Rte. 352 & Knowlton Rds. • Middletown Twp., Media PA 19063 Eric Carlson 24 Hour Hotline: 1-800-550-4900 Consultation www.msbfh .com | 610-876-4213 Gunnar Carlson www.birthrightofwestchester.org ~ PARISHIONER ~ COME OVER TO OUR BANK! Radomile White-Luttrell FREE CHECKING* Funeral Homes, ltd. Checks Returned With Statement Family Independently Owned & Operated Internet Banking Unlimited Free Teller Transactions Dental Care Harold J. Whartnaby, L.F.D., Supervisor Commercial Loans Cosmetic, Preventative 311 N. Swarthmore Ave., Ridley Park, PA 19078 Residential Loans and Implant Dentistry for (610) 532-9606 Adults and Children 3333 Concord Rd. Aston-610-497-1800 Bruce M. Ertwine, Jr., L.F.D., Supervisor 3 State Rd. Media-610-565-7044 610 789-4066 3551 Concord Road, Aston, PA 19014 Member FDIC (610) 494-3424 1 Olde Ridge Village Chadds Ford-610-361-8790 New Patients Welcome Jason B. Ertwine, L.F.D. www.iwsb.com 4207 State Rd., Drexel Hill Minimum Balance of $250 after fi rst year, $10.00 service charge if below www.radomilefamilydental.com www.whiteluttrell.com

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