Our Lady of Purgatory

Maronite Catholic Church January 9-10, 2021 FIRST SUNDAY AFTER EPIPHANY QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“Prayer -A soul arms itself by prayer for all kinds of combat. In whatever state the soul may be, it ought to pray. A soul which is pure and beautiful must pray, or else it will lose its beauty; a soul which is striving after this purity must pray, or else it will never attain it; a soul which is newly is venerated as a saint by converted must pray, or FEAST OF SAINT JACOB OF the Eastern Orthodox Church, else it will fall again; a NISIBIS Oriental Orthodox Church, and sinful soul, plunged in First bishop of Nisibis, also listed Roman Catholic Church. sins, must pray so that it as James. He took part in the Biography might rise again. There is Council of Nicaea and is Saint Jacob was the son of prince no soul which is not bound traditionally credited with pray- Gefal, and was born in the city of to pray, for every single ing for the death of the heresiarch Nisibis in Mesopotamia in the 3rd grace comes to the soul Anus. He was renowned in the century AD. It is claimed that he through prayer.” Syriac Church for his learning was a relative of Saint Gregory and holiness and for building a the Illuminator. According to St. Faustina basilica and founding the Gennadius of Massilia, Saint theological school of Nisibis. Jacob became a Confessor of the Jacob died at Nisibis. Faith for his suffering during He was lauded as the "Moses of persecution by Emperor Mesopotamia", and was the Maximian. Saint Jacob became spiritual father of the renowned an anchorite in c. 280 in the writer and theologian Saint mountains near Nisibis where, Ephrem the Syrian. Saint Jacob according to Saint Theodoret of was present at the first Cyrrhus, he survived on herbs and ecumenical council at Nicaea, and fruits, and chose to wear no

Fr. Vincent Farhat, Pastor | Rev. Mr. Jean Mattar, Deacon | Joseph Abraham , Sub-deacon Address: 11 Franklin Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 Office: 508-996-8934| Fax: 774-202-0758| Evening Emergency Number: 561-371-5316 | Website: www.ourladyofpurgatory.org Email: [email protected] | Facebook Page: Our Lady of Purgatory Catholic Church - Maronite Rite OFFICE HOURS: The Church office will be open Monday through Thursday from 10:00 am until 3:00 pm.

clothes, build shelter, or light fires Disagreement exists as to the date army was afflicted by a swarm of for warmth. The saint became of the saint's consecration as gnats and flies summoned by the famous, and received visits from bishop of Nisibis as it is argued it saint, and Shapur II subsequently Sheria, Bishop of Arbela (r. 304- took place in c. 300, and he is abandoned the siege. 316), according to the Chronicle recorded as the city's first bishop The saint is counted amongst the of Arbela. by Saint Ephrem the signatories of the Council of The saint resolved to Syrian. However, Saint Jacob is Antioch in 341, however, his climb Mount Qardu, traditionally credited as the successor of Babu, presence at the council is believed to be the resting place the first bishop of Nisibis (r. 300- unrecorded in other sources. In of Noah's Ark, and recover a 309), by the Catholic 350, according to the Chronicon fragment of the ark upon hearing Encyclopedia, who Saint Ephrem Paschale, Saint Jacob helped from the hermit Maroukeh that states was in fact Saint Jacob's defend Nisibis against Shapur II local people doubted the Great successor. In his Chronography, again, and as he was wearing the Flood.[10] Saint Jacob ascended Elijah of Nisibis states that Saint imperial regalia, was confused for the mountain and rested close to Jacob was consecrated bishop in Emperor Constantius II. Shapur II the summit; in his sleep, an angel 308. The Chronicle of Edessa challenged the saint to fight placed a fragment of the ark close states that the saint constructed outside the city, where it was to him, and instructed him to the first church in Nisibis in c. revealed he was an apparition and awake.[10] The saint brought the 313-320. Miles, Bishop of Susa, the Iranian army withdrew as a relic to the hermit Maroukeh and, is said to have contributed a large result. according to the saint's quantity of silk from Adiabene to hagiography, a sacred spring the church's construction. The SACRAMENT OF appeared where the saint had foundation of the School of RECONCILIATION rested, reputed to have healing Nisibis is also attributed to Saint (CONFESSION) properties. Jacob. Saint Jacob attended the Please know that confession is A number of miracles are credited First Council of Nicaea in 325, available before liturgies. You to Saint Jacob by Saint Theodoret and opposed Arius. Saint Ephrem may also call to set up an in Historia Religiosa (Religious purportedly accompanied the appointment. History), in which the saint had a saint to the council, however, this boulder explode beside a Persian is considered apocryphal. Saint January Lector Schedule: judge who had given an unjust Jacob attended the funeral of Saturday, January 9, judgement. Also, in one incident, Saint Metrophanes of Byzantium Smitty Cabral Saint Jacob cursed boastful, in 326. Saint Jacob was present at Sunday, January 10, promiscuous women by a spring the siege of Nisibis by Shapur II, Ann Dupre/Jano Baroody so that their hair became white, Shahanshah of Iran, in 337/338, and the spring disappeared. The and according to Saint Theodoret, Saturday, January 16, women subsequently repented, with encouragement from the Carol Ann Maslanka and the spring returned, however, city's population and Saint Sunday, January 17, the women's hair remained Ephrem, Saint Jacob ascended the Jean Barbour/Hiba Chedid white. As well as this, a group of walls and prayed for the city, and people attempted to deceive the cursed the besiegers. The Saturday, January 23, saint whereby they asked for Martyrologium Hieronymianum Mae Dickinson money to fund the burial of a man relates that he died on 15 July, the Sunday, January 24, they had lain down and covered thirtieth day of the siege, Ann Dupre/Gaby Baroody with a sheet with the illusion of according to the Chronicle of 724. death; consequently, the man Gennadius and Saint Ephrem Saturday, January 30, died, and the people repented and record that Saint Jacob was buried Rose David thus the man was resurrected as a within the walls of Nisibis. Saint Sunday, January 31, result of Saint Jacob's prayers. Theodoret adds that the Iranian Mae Dickinson/Jano Baroody

LITURGY INTENTIONS ADULT BIBLE STUDY AT Saturday, January 9, @ 4:30 PM, OLOP liturgy is being offered for the soul Bible Study will be held on of Raymond Nouhan requested by Monday, January 11, at 6:45, in Ida Farhat. May his soul rest in the rectory basement. Please peace. remember to sign up or call the Sunday, January 10, @ 10:30 PM, (Feast of Saint Gregory of Nyssa) office. We look forward to seeing liturgy is being offered for the souls you all there. of Walter and Janet Lalor requested EUCHARISTIC ADORATION by Jim Thomas and family. May Tuesday, January 19, we will WINE AND HOST their souls rest in peace. Liturgy is gather for Eucharistic Adoration OFFERINGS being offered asfor the soul of Julia at 6:00 PM. This is an This month of January, the wine Maroon and family by their family opportunity to spend some time and bread offerings are in as a Funded Mass. May their souls with Jesus. Mark your calendars memory of Georgette and Samir rest in peace. and please join us for this Sawaya requested by Zakhia and beautiful time of prayer. Hiba Chedid and family. May Monday, January 11, @ 6:00 PM, their souls rest in peace. (Feast of Saint Theodosius of ADULT BIBLE STUDY AT Anyone who would like to give an Antioch) OLOP Tuesday, January 12, @ 9:00 AM, offering in memory of a loved one (Feast of Saint Tatiana) Bible Study will be held on or for a special intention for the Wednesday, January 13, @ 6:00 Monday, January 11, at 6:45, in month of August 2021, please see PM, (Feast of Saint Jacob of the rectory basement. Please Fr. Vincent. The cost for the Nisibis) WELCOME MY INTO remember to sign up or call the month is $75.00, which covers the YOUR KINGDOM liturgy is being office. We look forward to seeing cost of the communion bread and offered for the soul of Marilyn you all there. wine. Thank you and God bless. Mooney requested by the Farhat family. May her soul rest in peace. Prayer for Spiritual IN OUR PRAYERS Thursday, January 14, @ 9:00 Communion Leigh Smith, Jacob Rego, Amal AM, (Feast of Saint Hilary of O Divine Ocean of Mercy and Assaf, Officer Vincent Peters, Poitiers) liturgy is being offered for Compassion, be with us in our Peter Helmer, Denise Magaletta, the soul of Ray Gross requested by time of trial and difficulties. Fernanda Thomas, Hiam Cheiab, Ida Farhat. May his soul rest in peace. Today I make an act of spiritual Leo and Ida Roderick, Theresa communion with you, the Life- John, Laurette BouRamia, Annie Saturday, January 16, @ 4:30 PM, Giving Trinity, Father, Son and Peter, Jeannie Francis, Mariam (Feast of the Memorial of the Holy Spirit. At this time, I am David, Norma Thomas, Zita Chains of Saint Peter) liturgy is not able to receive the sacred Drouin, Lucienne Rodrigues, Ed being offered for the souls of body and blood of my Lord, God Da Rocha, Edmond Salameh, and Edward and Theresa Coury and Savior Jesus Christ, but I Alice Daher. If anyone is requested by their grandchildren. choose to live in union with him missing from this list, please May their souls rest in peace. and in the unity of the Holy contact the Church office. Sunday, January 17 @ 10:30 AM, Spirit. I offer my day, my daily (Feast of Saint Anthony the Great) life, my joys and sorrows to you, Liturgy is being offered for the souls for those around me, and for the WEEKLY COLLECTION FOR of Georges El-Khoury MouJabber whole world. Be with us O life- January 2-3, 2021 and Alia Koury MouJabber requested by their family. May their giving Triune God, for we know Sunday Collection $ 1,455.00 souls rest in peace. Liturgy is being that nothing in this world has offered for the soul of Joseph Nader power over us. O Lover of all Candles $ 31.00 requested by Joann Longden. May people, have mercy on us and on Total: $ 1,486.00 his soul rest in peace. the whole world.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND GENEROSITY BY SENDING IN YOUR WEELY COLLECTIONS VIA MAIL. THIS HAS BEEN VERY HELPFUL FOR THE CHURCH. GOD BLESS YOU AND YOUR FAMILY.

How empty life is without you. Your Love and Patience has made us into who we are today. Your Guidance has set our path in life. We Miss seeing your face, hearing your voice, seeing your smile and hearing your laugh. We Love you and miss you even more with each passing day Your Loving Children Joseph & Marie Kenyon