St. Colette Catholic Church 17600 Newburgh Road Livonia, MI 48152 734-464-4433 January 5, 2020 Mission Statement The Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord We, the Family of “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” (Psalm 72) St. Colette, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit are dedicated to celebrating the Good News of Jesus Christ through Worship, Education, Fellowship and service to others. Mass Schedule Weekend Masses Saturday 4:00pm Sunday 8:00am, 10:00am, & 12:00pm Weekday Masses Tuesday, Wednesday, & Friday 9:00am For the most current information, please see our website: www.stcolette.net Follow us on Twitter: @stcolettevoice Welcome New Parishioners! To register, change an address, or if you moved, please contact the parish office. Page 2 “Coletta Scope”- St. Colette Church, Livonia About Today’s Solemnity Signing the Door on Epiphany It’s hard to talk about Epiphany without sound- A popular tradition celebrated on Epiphany is the ing like we’re exaggerating. Today is a day of superla- marking with chalk inside the main doorway of a house tives. Epiphany is the grandest, merriest, brightest and with the following: 20 + C + M + B + 20. The writing on best day of the Christmas Season. Epiphany means the doorway signifies: “appearance” and “revelation” and “manifestation.” In 20 = the current century Matthew’s Gospel it is the story of the visitation of the + = Jesus’ cross Magi offering the Lord their gifts of gold, frankincense C = the initial of the wise man Casper and myrrh. In all four Gospels it is the story of Jesus M = the initial of the wise man Melchior coming to the Jordan River to be baptized by John the B = the initial of the wise man Balthasar Baptist. In John’s Gospel the epiphany continues with 20 = the current year the story of Jesus changing the water into wine at the As a family writes these wedding at Cana in Galilee. In these Gospel stories we initials and numbers over the door, hear that God appears in creation. God is revealed in a each member makes a promise to star, in the waters of a river, in the shining skies, on the look for Jesus until he/she finds wings of a dove, in stone jars of everyday water. him. They are challenged to look For most Catholics around the world the Epiph- for Jesus in the lives of all people any of the Lord is celebrated on the twelfth day of the who visit their home. The family Christmas Season, that is, January 6th. For Catholics in also promises all who enter may the United States and Canada it is celebrated on the Sun- find Jesus in their home as the fam- day after January 1st. Matthew’s Gospel story of the ily practices virtues of consolation, Magi is a reflection on an important aspect of the mys- understanding, hospitality, rest, for- tery of Christmas: Jesus has come to all people and not giveness and love. just the Jews. The word magi is Greek and refers to It is most fitting that we people who were probably astrologers and interpreters should bless the doorway of our of dreams (not kings as they are commonly referred to). home every January. The first month of the year gets its Gold, frankincense, and myrrh, the three gifts mentioned name from the Roman god Janus whose name means in the Gospel, were traditional symbols of homage in the “gate” or “door” and the first month is the door to the East. Traditionally, they have come to symbolize the New Year. May it be a happy and truly holy one! destiny of Jesus: gold for his royalty, frankincense for his divinity, myrrh for his suffering and death. A popular custom on Epiphany is to mark the Epiphany Door Blessing Kits available inside of the main door of the home with the initials of If your family would like to bless and sign your the traditional names of the Magi and a code of the cur- door in the traditional way, you may pick up a kit with rent year connected with crosses: 20+C+M+B+20 the blessing and chalk this weekend after Mass. Kits will (C=Caspar, M=Melchior, B=Balthasar). Another expla- be available in the Gathering Space or by the side door of nation of the initials is that they are the first letters of the the church, to the right of the altar. blessing: Christus mansionem benedicat (Latin for, “May Christ bless the house”). Church Nativity Scene Once again our parish’s 2020 Parish Calendars Now Available Nativity Scene is located at one Once again our parish has the of the side shrines on the west opportunity to offer free-of-charge side of the church building in the Catholic calendars for the New year. area usually occupied by the stat- The calendars are located in the Gath- ues of the Holy Family. ering Space and on the window sill to Our parish’s Nativity the right of the altar. You are asked to Scene will be on display until please limit one calendar per family. Sunday, January 12th. Before and after Mass you are A thank you is extended to the encouraged to visit the Nativity Scene as a place of pil- Harry J. Will Funeral Home for their generous contribu- grimage, private prayer and devotion. Be sure to take tion of donating the cost of providing these calendars to your children and grandchildren as well! our parishioners. “Coletta Scope”- St. Colette Church, Livonia Page 3 Pastor’s Corner Today the Catholic Church in the United States and Canada celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany. Our Eng- lish word “epiphany” comes from the Greek word epiphanein which means “a showing, an appearance, a manifestation or revelation.” The Greek speaking early Christians used the word to describe the appearance of the true God, Jesus Christ, in the flesh born at Christmas. The story of the visitation of the Magi (probably astrologers and not real kings) as described in today’s Gospel Reading from Matthew, is a reflection of an important aspect of the mystery of Christ’s birth: the Messiah has come for all people everywhere because of God’s unconditional love for all creation. The chal- lenge before us is to imitate God’s love and to share it with everyone we meet. Not only that, but we should look for the many ways Jesus is made manifest to us today: in the Eucharist and Scriptures, the sacraments, and in the lives of one another. Since 1979 the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops has designated the week after the observance of the Solemnity of the Epiphany as National Migration Week. This observance always coincides with the celebration of Epiphany because after the visitation of the Magi, Matthew’s Gospel tells the story of the Holy Family finding safety and new lives in the foreign country of Egypt during their time of great need. In essence, Jesus, Mary and Joseph were mi- grants just as many migrants follow a path as they embark on a journey of hope. National Migration Week is celebrated as an opportunity for the Church to reflect on the circumstances confronting migrants, including immigrants, refugees, children, and victims of human trafficking. The theme for National Migration Week 2020, “Promoting a Church and a world for all” draws attention to the fact that each of our families have a migration story, some recent and others in the distant past. Regardless of where we are and where we came from, we remain part of the human family and are called to live in solidarity with one another. Unfortunately, in our contemporary culture we often fail to encounter migrants as persons, and instead look at them as unknown others, if we even notice them at all. We do not take the time to engage migrants in a meaningful way, as fel- low citizens of God, but remain aloof to their presence and suspicious or fearful of them. During National Migration Week, let us all take the opportunity to engage migrants as community members, neighbors, and friends. Locally, as members of a parish family we should look around and recognize our own cultural diversity. Appre- ciate and try to understand the gifts each nationality, race, and ethnic group contributes to our parish and society. If you recognize new people to the parish or your neighborhood welcome them and help them feel at home. Your hospitality may be what they need to feel a part of our community. God’s blessings extend to all of us. United as one family of God, let us work together to create a truly welcoming community for newcomers and migrants and strive to achieve jus- tice for them at all levels of the Church and society. Then they can take their place alongside us at the Lord’s banquet that Christ has prepared for all of God’s family. For more information on how we can assist migrants and immigrants visit the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website: www.justiceforimmigrants.org. This year’s observance of the Christmas Season ends on Sunday, January 12th, with the celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. With another Christmas Season soon to be behind us we look forward to a new year of grace and blessings from the Lord. Merry Christmas, Fr. Gary Are You a Catholic Whose Marriage Was Not Witnessed in a Catholic Church? Your marriage is civilly recognized but since the marriage was not witnessed by a Catholic priest or deacon the sacrament of Marriage was not celebrated.