Assumption Feast of the Epiphany Sunday, January 3, 2021 Resurrection SUNDAY MASSES: WEEKDAY MASSES CONFESSIONS HEARD: OFFICE HOURS: At Assumption: Sat: 4:00 PM At Assumption: At Assumption: At Assumption: Sun: 8:15 AM, 11:15 AM 7:30 AM Tu/W/Th Wed. after 11:15 AM Mass Mon-Fri 8:30 AM—4:30 PM At Resurrection: Sun: 9:45 AM 11:15 AM M/W/F Sat. after 4:00 PM Mass At Resurrection: At Resurrection: At either parish by request Reopening soon 8:30 AM M/Tu/Th/F The Church of the Resurrection and the Church of the Assumption are two independent Catholic parishes working together to form a shared community of faith, supported by a shared staff. STAFF Pastor, Fr. George Heyman 388-5420 / [email protected] Dcn. Ron Tocci, Pastoral Minister 388-5421 / [email protected] Dcn. Phil Yawman 377-8212 / [email protected] Parish Secretary, Assumption Julie Dapolito-Terrell 388-0040 / [email protected] Shared Secretary, Resurrection Corynn Shaw 223-5500 / [email protected] Dir. of Music & Liturgy Brian Waldmiller [email protected] Faith Formation Coordinator (7-12), Jennifer Hughes 388-5423 / [email protected] Faith Formation Coordinator (K-6), Catherine Steadman 388-5431/ [email protected] Pastoral Assoc. & RCIA Coord., Sr. Barbara Baker (MHSH) 770-3090 / [email protected] Finance Director, Karen Webb 388-5427 Bookkeeper, Diane Olson [email protected] Facilities Director, Chris Cammilleri 388-5429 / [email protected] Communications Coordinator, Maura Walsh [email protected] Church of the Resurrection Church of the Assumption 63 Mason Rd., Fairport, NY 20 East Ave., Fairport, NY (585) 223-5500 (585) 388-0040 www.resurrectionfairport.org www.cota.church Feast of the Epiphany, Sunday, January 3, 2021 Dear Friends, Our Christmas celebrations continue into the 2021 New always that easy. Being born into a Jewish family Year with the Feast of the Epiphany. I’ve always wanted to automatically made you Jewish and made you an heir to break out into a chorus of “We Three King” during today’s the great promises God had made to Abraham centuries liturgical celebration until I began my academic career and centuries ago. Being born into a Jewish family made analyzing the Scriptures. Sadly, I found out that the text you “chosen,” not “better than,” just “special” or “holy” in of Matthew’s Gospel today does not give us a number, God’s plan for all humanity. nor does it call them kings! What a let down! On closer But now with the advent and birth of Jesus the very Son analysis of the text, yes, there were three gifts (more of God, these same promises are now available to you symbolic than practical – What’s a little baby going to do and me! Wow! No wonder the magi brought gifts! These with myrrh anyway? It was used typically in Israel to “visitors from the East” are given special knowledge (that anoint dead bodies). And later Christian legend even what’s the stars in the sky offered if you could read them gave them names: Gaspar (or Casper), Melchior, and correctly): that the “real” King of Israel, not Herod the Balthazar, but Matthew never provided us with names. Great, would be the one who would bring the great This is not unusual for minor characters in New promises of God to their conclusion. And since they were Testament narratives. And lastly, Matthew calls them “from the east,” this special knowledge must have been “magi” (yes, it’s the same root word that gives us the given by God so that everyone on planet earth--not just word “magic”). These astronomers are more like ancient the Jewish people--could be considered part of the family IT systems analysts than royalty -- after all they make of Abraham. It was almost like God originally chose the their living watching stars! And to make matters more Jewish people, but he’s decided to “adopt” the Gentiles complex, they aren’t Jewish – they are “visitors from East.” (read: you and me) to be included in that plan of So, what is Matthew trying to tell us? I think the answer salvation. really predates Matthew who is writing his Gospel What exactly are the promises God made to Abraham sometime in latter part of the first century. Paul’s writings that are now made available to you and me because were already 30 to 40 years old when Matthew decided Jesus, the very Son of God, was born in Bethlehem? For to take up the ole stylus and put his ideas about Jesus starters, God told Abraham that He would provide him down on parchment. What Matthew casts in narrative with a home, a place to call his own, so to speak! For you form today, the author of Ephesians (It might have been and me, that place is heaven (however you wish to St. Paul, but again us Bible nerdy professors are still imagine that reality). God also promised Abraham he debating that topic) puts into a brief couple of sentences would live on forever in his children. And Jesus died so when he writes: “It was not made known to people in other that we ourselves personally will live forever in that joy of generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles that heaven. WOW! Now, given this new twist of events in and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, the course of God’s plan for human history, shouldn’t you members of the same body, and copartners in the promise and I be bringing gifts as well? in Christ Jesus.” Wait a minute, the “Gentiles” (non-Jewish people) are now coheirs? Nobody in ancient Judaism saw This Epiphany, unwrap your gifts of patience, humility, that coming! After all, the promises God made were given justice, compassion, forgiveness and love. Try giving to Abraham and his posterity, that is, the Jewish people. these away to friends and strangers alike. You too can And now, after the birth of Jesus, this good stuff is going become modern Magi -- called to follow that start and to be given to non-Jewish people as well? share deeply in the joy of Christmas. The answer is YES – and this was a cataclysmic earth- shaking reality for first century Israel. Judaism was, and is to this day, a biologically-based kinship system. You are Jewish if you were born from a Jewish parent. It was IN THE WORDS OF POPE FRANCIS In some host countries, migration causes fear and alarm, often fomented and exploited for political purposes. This can lead to a xenophobic mentality, as people close in on themselves, and it needs to be addressed decisively. Migrants are not seen as entitled like others to participate in the life of society, and it is forgotten that they possess the same intrinsic dignity as any person. Hence they ought to be agents in their own redemption. No one will ever openly deny that they are human beings, yet in practice, by our decisions and the way we treat them, we can show that we consider them less worthy, less important, less human. For Christians, this way of thinking and acting is unacceptable, since it set certain political preferences above deep convictions of our faith: the inalienable dignity of each human person regardless of origin, race or religious, and the supreme law of fraternal love.” ~Fratelli Tutti #39 Welcome to Our Fai4-Sharing Community WE ARE HERE FOR YOU! MASS INTENTIONS The worship space at Assumption is Sunday, January 3 open for private prayer weekdays from Saturday at 4:00 PM (A) Donna Salmon ....................................... Kathy and Greg Evershed 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. If you visit the 8:15 AM (A) Special Intention of Danitza Bull ............................................. Linda McCauley church to pray privately, please use the Charles & Anna Crist ............................................................. Charlie and Betsy main church entrance, use the hand Josephine Pullara .......................................................... Ralph & Amy Fernaays sanitizer on your way in, sit in the 9:45 AM (R) Margaret Carroll ................................................................ John & Karen Loftus indicated area, and leave at least six feet Stanisalaus Popen ............................................................................ Jean Popen between yourself and others. 11:15 AM (A) Brendan Callihan ........................................................... Sue and Dennis Bigler Joseph Grimes ............................................................ Anne and Joe Cirencione Funerals, weddings, and baptisms can John Briggs ...................................................................... Betty & Doug Busano be celebrated, within the state capacity/ social distancing limits. Monday, January 4 8:30 AM (R) Peggy Carroll ................................................................ George & Debby Orosz 11:15 AM (A) For all the people of the parish We pray together for the repose of the souls of Tuesday, January 5 7:30 AM (A) For vocations Matthew Hoffman, 8:30 AM (R) Joseph Kuehmeier ....................................................................Maryann Ritger Antoinette Langlois, and Isaac Ray Leisten (infant). Wednesday, January 6 7:30 AM (A) For all the people of the parish May they and all the recently 11:15 AM (A) For our priests departed rest in peace. Thursday, January 7 7:30 am: (A) For all the people of the parish PRAYER REQUESTS 8:30 am (R) Joseph Nhgi Quang Tran .................................................................. Tran family We join our prayers together with those of Friday, January 8 our parish family and include in our prayers 8:30 am (R) Thomas Do Duc Minh....................................................................... Tran family all those who are alone in this time of trial. 11:15 am (A) Memorial Scroll For the family of baby Isaac Ray Leister, Saturday, January 9 4:00 PM (A) Intentions of Maureen Flanagan & family .................... Kelly Wright & family including his parents, Kathy and Chris, Tom Andrulonis ................................................................... Sue & Sam Samick and his grandparents, parishioners David and Patricia Markham Sunday, January 10 8:15 AM Gary Wright .....................................................................