January 3, 2021 Blessings for the New Year MASS & WORSHIP SCHEDULE SATURDAY VIGIL: 5:00PM SUNDAY MASSES: 9:00AM; 11:00AM Spanish @ 1:30PM; Youth Mass @ 6:00PM MONDAY-FRIDAY: 7:30AM; SATURDAY 7:30AM RECONCILIATION: SUNDAYS 9:45AM—10:30AM; or by APPOINTMENT , call 610.644.1655 ADORATION: THURSDAYS 7:00PM—8:00PM CHURCH 50 LEOPARD ROAD, PAOLI, PA 19301 PHONE 610.644.1655 CLERGY FAX 610.644.1928 REV. STEVEN J. ALBERO, O.PRAEM., PASTOR PARISH.STNORBERT.ORG REV. JAMES C. RODIA, O.PRAEM., PAROCHIAL VICAR SCHOOL 6 GREENLAWN ROAD, PAOLI, PA 19301 DEACON HANK FILA PHONE: 610.644.1670 DEACON JOHN P. LOZANO FAX: 610.644.0201 MARY KAY HENNESSY, PRINCI PAL DEACON STEVE MARTINO SCHOOL.STNORBERT.ORG DEACON WILLIAM M. MASAPOLLO (RETIRED) The Epiphany of the Lord When I tell a story, I have a friend who prefers the “nutshell version” first. After that she’ll listen to me ram- ble, but she wants to know the main point right off the bat. When reading and hearing Sunday scriptures one may often find the nutshell by looking at the responsorial psalm or the Gospel acclamation. From Psalm 72 we hear “Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.” The verse for the Gospel acclamation is Matthew 2:2 “We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” As a weary world, we need to see the light, to follow with our actions and our words. This is the same hope that is echoed in Isaiah 60:2 “See, darkness covers the earth, / and thick clouds cover the peoples; / but upon you the LORD shines, / and over you appears his glory.” Don’t give up, friends. You must shine! SEARCHING In Matthew’s Gospel today we see two extremely different perspectives, two different reasons for searching for Jesus. In some ways, this resem- bles the polarization of our nation in today’s time. What one group sees as good for the nation, those with opposing views think will wreck the country. The Magi were astrologers who saw a vision in the sky and were trying to find a way to follow it and discover the new king of the Jews. Herod heard about this king, and his reaction was dark and nega- tive. He saw the birth of such a king as a threat to his power as the Ro- man leader of the country and wanted the Magi to pass on to him what they knew about this Christ child. Similarly, on a more personal level, we can either feel threatened or excited by changes that may come, de- pending on our perspective. GIVING HOMAGE In our minds, it is easy to mix up bits and pieces from Luke’s account of the shepherds coming to see Jesus in the stable and the story of the magi. Clearly, it has taken the magi time to get here, and the reading speaks of them coming to the house where the star led them. Nevertheless, they “prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures . .” How do we do this? Do we continue looking for Jesus, even if takes a while and he is not where we expect to see him? Are we paying attention to the signs showing us the way? What gifts do we have with which to pay him homage? After seeing him, the Magi were warned in a dream not to go back the way they came. But if we have seen the Christ child, how can we go back to where we were? We must continue to respond to God’s call to move forward and grow in our lives. We must seek the right and just path and turn away from the “Herods” and inherent evils in our life. Nutshell: Seek God. Pay homage. Amen. Today’s Readings: Is 60:1–6; Ps 72:1–2, 7–8, 10–11, 12–13; Eph 3:2–3a, 5–6; Mt 2:1–12 Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc. Page 2 January 3, 2021 The Epiphany of the Lord January 3, 2021 All kings shall pay him homage, all Our Faith nations shall serve him. — Psalm 72:11 The Liturgy of Emmanuel Sunday, January 3 The assembly has gathered from 5PM VIGIL † Quintin Todd near and far, on foot, by bus, by car, by subway, singly and by twos and 9:00AM † T homas W. Morelli threes: single people, couples, fami- lies. Now that movement is ritual- 11:00AM † Susan & Michael ized and made visible in the litur- Croll—50th Wedding gy’s entrance procession. Anniversary We are not alone on this jour- PRAYERS † ney; Christ is with us. The proces- 1:30PM Our Parishioners sion is led by the cross, with the image of Christ upon it. Candles, 6:00PM † Bayster Family PRAY FOR HEALING: signs of a living presence, are car- Maria Morales, Ed Rofi, Peter Lim, ried around the cross. Candles also Monday, January 4 Mary Ann Gallagher, J. D. Sobota, accompany the Book of the Gos- Patricia Uberti, Pat Masapollo, Irene pels, another sign of Emmanuel, 7:30 AM † Mary Lyons & West, Sr., Sarah Frack, Henry Reut- God-with-us. The priest presider is Corinne Kerrigan ter, Carlos and Valentina Estevez, likewise a sign of Christ’s presence Kevin Horan, Jennifer Mueller, Rob- in our assembly; he will act in per- ert Gerhardt, Patricia Boyce, Juan Tuesday, January 5 sona Christi, in the person of Guerra, Carmen Sotorrio, Naomi Christ, who presides at every Eu- 7:30 AM † Delfino Finocchio Grace Rouse, Bob Cook, charist. Anthony Coppa As the procession begins, we stand and sing together in our first Wednesday, January 6 act as a community. The joining of REST IN PEACE: FRANCIS MADALENA, our voices begins to turn many into 7:30 AM † Joseph Martino FR. TED ANTRY, O.PRAEM., CHARLES CHERA one. The songs we sing range from DOMINIC J. MEOLI, CORINNE KERRIGAN ancient chants to contemporary hymns, but they have the same pur- Thursday, January 7 pose, to foster our unity and turn FOR OUR TROOPS: Annie Clarke our thoughts to the mysteries we 7:30 AM † Pvt. Matthew Cress, USA; Pvt. Jessica gather to celebrate. We may feel Flowers USA; Pvt. Michael Flowers, USA; that we can’t sing well, but “Christ Capt. Rob Kersey, USN; Lt. Col. James Friday, January 8 always invites us to enter into song, Merenda, USAF; Lt. Nicholas Prestipino, to rise above our own preoccupa- Julia & Michael USA ; Sgt. R. J. Paski, USA; Sgt. Matthew 7:30 AM † tions, and to give our entire selves Valyo Paski, USAF; Maj. Brian Wallin, DO, USA; to the hymn of his Paschal Sacri- 2nd Lt. Robert Farber, USA; 2nd Lt. Robert Saturday, January 9 nd fice” (USCCB, Sing to the Lord, 14). Dietrich III, USA; 2 Lt. Joseph R. Ellis, USMC —Corinna Laughlin, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. 7:30 AM † Ralph, Sr., Mary Elisie & Frances DiFronzo READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: 1 Jn 3:22 — 4:6; Ps 2:7bc- 5PM VIGIL † Margaret Kehoekovner 8, 10-12a; Mt 4:12-17, 23-25 REMEMBRANCE CANDLES Tuesday: 1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 72:1-4, 7- WEEK OF JANUARY 3 8; Mk 6:34-44 Sunday, January 10 Wednesday: 1 Jn 4:11-18; Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13; Mk 6:45-52 9:00AM D eLeo Family Blessed Mother Candle Thursday: 1 Jn 4:19 — 5:4; Ps 72: 1- burns for 2, 14, 15bc, 17; Lk 4:14-22a 11:00AM † Elsie Stewart Annunziata Finocchio Friday: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19 -20; Lk 5:12-16 Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21; Ps 149:1-6a, 1:30PM † Our Parishioners Saint Joseph Candle burns for 9b; Jn 3:22-30 Sunday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 55:1-11; Jerry Byrd 6:00PM † Our Parishioners Ps 29:1-4, 3, 9-10 or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd -6; Acts 10:34-38 or 1 Jn 5:1-9; Mk 1:7-11 Page 3 January 3, 2021 From the Pastor... Friends, Today is the celebration of the Epiphany of the Lord. We come together to sing the praises of the Jesus. To spread the good news of salvation. In the Gospel, Matthew is teaching that Jesus came for the whole world. And at the end of his Gospel, the risen Lord tells the eleven to go “and make disciples of all nations.” We must remember that Jesus placing Himself into this human world affects all people. That means every culture and every part of life. A good definition of catholic is “all-embracing.” The story of the magi should make us think about whether our hearts are “all-embracing.” We are brothers and sisters of the whole human race. When we come to the Lord’s table to celebrate Mass we are joined with every race and color around the world. Our call is to pay homage to Jesus just as the magi do in today’s Gospel. St. Gregory the Great spoke of the three gifts of the magi as symbols of the gifts we need for our journey of faith. Gold is wisdom; incense, prayer; and myrrh, self-denial. Let’s continually seek wisdom to serve God and His people faith- fully. Prayer brings us into personal relationship with our Father in heaven. And self-denial strengthens us along the journey of Faith. We’ve been talking about S.T.E.P.S. for many months now. It is not a program, but a lifestyle.