Pg 2 | Sixth Sunday in ordinary Time February 14, 2021 Corpus Christi Catholic Church Weekly Message from Father Tom Archdiocese of Galveston - Houston The leper who approaches Jesus in today’s Gospel should by all accounts Administered by The Congregation of the be required to live in isolation apart from his community. He is a societal Blessed Sacrament outcast, literally untouchable. It’s clear why the encounter between the 9900 Stella Link Rd Houston, TX 77025 leper and Jesus was unusual. Jesus whose status was that of a common Telephone: 713-667-0497 Jew, was inside of society, while the leper was outside of society! Their ccparishhouston.org paths were not supposed to cross under any circumstances. Given the Parish Clergy culture at the time, some might describe this leper’s actions as Fr. Tom Smithson, SSS courageous. What about modern-day lepers? Not those with Hansen’s Pastor disease but the sickness of leprosy from the spiritual point of view Fr. RaviEarnest Sebastin, SSS rather than the physical. Leprosy is not only a physical infirmity, it is also Parochial Vicar described as a morally or spiritually harmful influence. The spiritual Fr. Peter Tuong, SSS leper is one who has suffered from numerous life bondages and sin; Parochial Vicar one who has spiritually and morally been broken, ashamed, condemned and entangled with expectations of proving their value Deacon William Castro and worth through the perceptions they have placed upon themselves, Permanent Deacon and the judges which they have placed over them. Parish Staff I’m reminded of another judge − this one on ''American Idol.'' One year Christi Ayo 713-667-0497 x117 the show featured a young lady named Mandisa Hundley. Mandisa was Pastoral Associate criticized for her weight when Simon Cowell made a sarcastic remark upon seeing her, questioning: 'Do we have a bigger stage this year?' Joseph Patrick 713-667-0497 x121 When she returned to the stage later, Mandisa looked right at Simon Director, Music & Liturgy and addressed him: ''Simon, a lot of people want me to say a lot of Hilda Morales 713-667-0497 x115 things to you. But this is what I want to say − yes, you hurt me, and I Hispanic Ministry & cried, and it was painful. It really was, but I want you to know that I've Religious Ed. Asst. Coordinator forgiven you. You don't need someone to apologize in order to forgive. Connie Rodriguez 713-667-0497 x118 And I figure that if Jesus could die so that all of my wrongs could be Religious Ed. Coordinator forgiven, I can certainly extend that same grace to you.” Leroy Ozores 713-667-0497 x119 Randy Jackson, another judge said, ''Amen.'' Simon apologized and Support Staff hugged the singer, and Mandisa discovered she had been selected to advance into the next round. Unfortunately, I’ve seen this behavior too Jose Martinez 713-667-0497 much on television. It’s all about the idolization of a person; their looks, Maintenance the way they fit the media paradigm. What if they had said: Martha Martinez 713-667-0497 ‘Mandisa, God gave you a wonderful gift’. But something more Directora, Coro wonderful happened. Mandisa quickly established herself as a fearfully and wonderfully made everywoman. Somewhere, maybe from a parent, Parish School teacher, parish catechist, confirmation class, friend, or pastor − Mandisa Mazie McCoy 713-664-3351 x210 had heard what Jesus Christ has to say about what true love is all about. Principal Our world needs more Mandisas who will practice a Christ-like love in Susan Miller 713-664-3351 x222 the midst of a persecuting world. To love as God loves, you must allow Admission Director Jesus Christ to do awesome works in your life. God’s Eucharistic Blessing, Fr. Tom Smithson, SSS Pg 3 | Sixth Sunday in ordinary Time February 14, 2021 Mass Schedule Impostor priest email/ Mass Intentions Weekday texting scams for the Week † Mornings: Monday – Friday There continues to be reports Monday, February 15 8:00 am Mass of fraudulent emails solicitations 8:00 am K.M. Joseph † 7:00 pm Aaron Gutierrez b/d † Evenings: Monday for financial support, usually in the form of gift cards, Tuesday, February 16 7:00 pm Mass coming from email accounts 8:00 am Suraj Kurian Weekend identifying as priests. Wednesday, February 17 Saturday 8:00 am Priests/churches would never 8:00 am People of the Parish 12:00 noon People of the Parish make such appeals to the parish 5:00 pm (Sunday Vigil) 6:00 pm People of the Parish Sunday 9:00 am, 11:00 am, community. Please notify 7:30 pm People of the Parish the parish office immediately 1:30 pm in Spanish Thursday, February 18 if you receive any unfamiliar 8:00 am Peter Lucas † Confessions donation requests. Friday, February 19 Saturday 3 – 4:30 pm Ash Wednesday 8:00 am Elizabeth Robleto b/d Capital Campaign Saturday, February 20 Liturgy Schedule 8:00 am Martha Crockett † update 8:00 am 5:00 pm William J. Drawe III † Phase II of The Honoring our PAST, Mass with distribution of ashes Sunday, February 21 Building our FUTURE Campaign will (Live-streamed) (English) 9:00 am People of the Parish begin this week. Thanks to your very 12:00 noon 11:00 am Victoria Valentine † generous support, we are able to Mass with distribution of ashes 1:30 pm Maria Ozores b/d move forward with fundraising and (English) Readings For the Week 6:00 pm the very initial stages of the Monday: Gn 4:1-15, 25; Liturgy of the Word with renovation. We have much for which Ps 50:1, 8, 16bc-17, 20-21; Mk 8:11-13 distribution of ashes (English) to be thankful and I look forward to Tuesday: Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10; a strong and successful campaign. 7:30 pm Ps 29:1a, 2, 3ac-4, 3b, 9c-10; Mk 8:14-21 Mass with distribution of ashes Wednesday: Jl 2:12-18; Ps 51:3-6ab, 12-14, Fr. Tom Smithson, SSS (Spanish) Due to safety concerns about 17; 2 Cor 5:20 — 6:2; Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 “Walk in the Light COVID, the Archdiocese has asked Thursday: Dt 30:15-20; Ps 1:1-4, 6; of Christ” us to follow the directives Lk 9:22-25 2021 Diocesan Services published by the Holy See for the Friday: Is 58:1-9a; Ps 51:3-6ab, 18-19; distribution of ashes: Mt 9:14-15 “The celebrant blesses the ashes in Fund Saturday: Is 58:9b-14; Ps 86:1-6; Lk 5:27-32 The kick-off of DSF 2021 has begun. the manner set forth in the Roman Sunday: Gn 9:8-15; Ps 25:4-9; 1 Pt 3:18-22; Cardinal DiNardo invites us to make Missal, and imposes them by Mk 1:12-15 our annual commitment to help sprinkling a pinch of ashes on the parishes and ministries that need it crown of each person’s head, Parish Mission and to Walk in the Light of Christ. If saying nothing. “ Statement you have not yet done so, please This is to say that the ashes will not Embracing the Eucharist as the source complete a response card or visit be imposed as a cross on the and summit of our lives, we are a www.archgh.org/dsf to make a forehead. Rather, a very small Catholic community committed to peace, donation. Your generosity helps amount of ashes will be sprinkled justice and unity, through worship, service, support ministries that serve on top of the head. This will education and fellowship. thousands of our brothers and eliminate physical contact from sisters in the Archdiocese of person to person. As usual, Galveston-Houston. social distancing will be observed SIGN UP NOW! at the Ash Wednesday liturgies, and masks are still required to www.ccparishhouston.org enter the church. Pg 4 | Sixth Sunday in ordinary Time February 14, 2021 Sixth Sunday in ordinary Time First Reading: Second Reading: The leprosy left him immediately, The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, Brothers and sisters, and he was made clean. “If someone has on his skin Whether you eat or drink, or Then, warning him sternly, he a scab or pustule or blotch which whatever you do, do everything dismissed him at once. appears to be the sore of leprosy, for the glory of God. Avoid giving He said to him, “See that you tell he shall be brought to Aaron, offense, whether to the Jews or no one anything, but go, show the priest, or to one of the priests Greeks or the church of God, yourself to the priest and offer among his descendants. If the man just as I try to please everyone for your cleansing what Moses is leprous and unclean, in every way, not seeking my own prescribed; the priest shall declare him benefit but that of the many, that will be proof for them.” unclean by reason of the sore on that they may be saved. The man went away and began his head. “The one who bears the Be imitators of me, to publicize the whole matter. sore of leprosy shall keep his as I am of Christ. He spread the report abroad garments rent and his head bare, Gospel: so that it was impossible for and shall muffle his beard; he shall A leper came to Jesus and kneeling Jesus to enter a town openly. cry out, ‘Unclean, unclean!’ down begged him and said, He remained outside in As long as the sore is on him “If you wish, you can make me deserted places, and people kept he shall declare himself unclean, clean.” Moved with pity, he coming to him from everywhere.