THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
ST. NICHOLAS PARISH From the Pastor’s Desk The readings for this Sunday, particularly the first reading from the book of the Prophet Nehemiah, have been in my mind throughout this past week. The Israelites were living through the most difficult time in their history; the Babylonian Exile. Jerusalem and their precious Temple were destroyed by the Babylonians. They were in exile in Babylon for over fifty years. They were eventually released by the benevolence of Cyrus the King of Persia. He commanded their release and encouraged them, with the support of their captors to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the city and the Temple. This was an enormous task. At times they were completely overwhelmed. At a certain point I am sure they were unsure of what they were doing since many of the exiles were born in Babylon and had no memory or direct connection with Jerusalem and the Temple. The only connection would be through their elderly parents, relatives and fellow Israelites. I am sure that for the greater number of exiles who were released that this whole venture did not make much sense. What was going to motivate them to undergo this returning to Jerusalem and commence the rebuilding? This task of rebuilding Jerusalem and the Temple would only make sense to them it they understood who they were in the world: God’s Chosen People. It was necessary to grasp their origin as a people as well as their destiny in order to understand the importance of how they were to live in the present. The present moment with the task at hand would make sense if they understood their past and their hopes for the future. In the first reading we hear that Ezra the priest stood before the people, in a kind of a liturgy, and read the Book of the Law of God to the people from early morning until mid-day. In reading the Book of the Law of God they began to understand who they were as God’s Chosen People and how they were to live. They are a people who are in a Covenant Relationship with God. They were also aware that they were a people who have not been faithful to their part of the Covenant: thus their exile. Yet their release from Babylon is an indication of God’s faithfulness to the Covenant. This made their lives meaningful. The work of rebuilding the city and the temple was now important and meaningful. As Ezra reads from the Book of the Law of God the people respond with tears of sorrow since their lives were far from obeying the Law of God. They also expressed tears of rejoicing since now they understand what it means to be God’s Chosen People. They had a responsibility to live the Law of God. The rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple was a manifestation of the presence of God in the world and they are God’s Chosen People. They had a responsibility to listen and live the Law of God in order to be a genuinely good and holy people: God’s Chosen People and a light to the nations. Jesus is the Word of God made flesh: the Incarnation. He is the One who reveals to us our origin, our destiny and how we are to live in the present. This gives meaning and purpose to our lives. Without Jesus we do not know the truth of who we are, what our final destination is, and how we are to live in this world. All too often we find others who would like to tell us what the meaning of life is and how we are to live. We have our movies, our music, our secular culture, the news media… we have many outlets that try to tell us what life is all about and how we are supposed to live in this world. Sadly enough we often allow this to influence our lives. Most of these
philosophies of life are devoid of the centrality of the Word of God: Jesus Christ. Then to make matters worse we find the secular news media telling us what the Church teaches and what Catholics believe. I often get frustrated with what is presented as “Catholic” teachings that is presented in the news. I find it even sadder when many accept what is reported without fact-checking with Catholic resources in order to discern the truth. It must be stated and reaffirmed that we have a very reliable source for our understanding of life and how we are to live. We have two main resources: the Scriptures with an emphasis on the Gospels, and Sacred Tradition; the teachings of the Church. We find the meaning of life in these two essential sources. Although this is readily available, we still have to listen with open hearts and minds in order to genuinely hear and then to live as Catholic Christians in this world. This is not very easy. In listening to the Word of God and the Teachings of the Church some should shed tears of sorrow for not being faithful as Christians in the world. Some indeed shed tears of joy because of the great wisdom and joy of living a meaningful life in Christ. Then there are some whose response is an indifferent rejection of the Word of God and the Teachings of the Church. This is the worst: indifference. At times I think it is not easy to be a faithful Catholic Christian in the world. We are faced with many obstacles in this sinful world. It is often tempting to take the easy way out and do nothing. However, there is no easy way to get around one important reality: our personal response to God. God is personal, and our response is personal. Therefore one must make a personal effort to pray, read, study and live the faith. There has to be a personal effort made on our part. This is a great challenge. We all have been given the gift of a free will and nothing gets accomplished in our faith life without our freely willing to live a life of faith. We should be like the people standing before the priest, Ezra, as he reads the Book of the Law of God. We need to examine our lives in the light of the Book of the Law of God: the Scriptures and most especially the Gospels. We must accept the challenge to live our lives in the light of the Gospels. We must also look to the teachings of the Church for insight and guidance for our lives. We must trust that the mission of the Church is also the mission of Jesus Christ: the salvation of souls. All is oriented to that mission. The necessary grace to bring that mission to its completion is always available to us through Christ and His Church. St. John Paul II often quoted a line from the Second Vatican Council’s document on the Church in the Modern World where it says that “Jesus Christ fully reveals man to himself”. Pope St. John Paul II stressed that we needed to pray and contemplate the face of Christ: the human face of God and the Divine face of man. We must look to Jesus for the true meaning and direction for our lives. Jesus Christ alone, for he is the Word of God in the flesh. Before him we will shed tears of sorrow for our sins. We will also shed tears of joy for his great love and mercy. He alone is the meaning of our lives. The greatest tragedy would be to be indifferent to Jesus Christ, turn away and try to go it alone depriving our lives of our true origin, destiny and meaning of life. Indifference to Jesus Christ is the worst. At the end of this week I hope to be able to get away to go spend some time with my father and family. Fr. John Stattmiller has generously agreed to come and cover my weekend masses. Please note well the mass times for the next two weeks. There will not be a morning mass for
JANUARY 24, 2016 Friday this week. The following week’s schedule will be in next Sunday’s bulletin. Have a good week. Father Ralko
Church Support January 17, 2016 OFFERTORY Diocesan Tax Fenwick Subsidy Rosecrans subsidy Available for Parish Operations Parish Operating Expenses Religious Education Expenses Other Income Weekly deficit May God bless you for supporting your parish
$10,305.00 $ (650.00) $(3,060.00) ($290.00) $6,305.00 $(8,200.00) $(800.00) $2,300.00 $ (395.00)
Thank you and God Bless. This week we pray Week III of the Liturgy of the hours. We pray for the following who have died recently:
RELIVE THE JOY OF THE EARLY DAYS OF YOUR MARRIAGE Learn how at a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend! Its 44 hours where you focus only on each other. The next two weekends are February 19-21 and April 22-24, both in central Ohio. For more information or to register, contact Paul & Marilou Clouse at 614-834-6880 or visit our website at www.wwmecolumbus.org
TRIVIA NIGHT February 19th Sponsored by the Bishop Fenwick PTC To be held at the Knights of Columbus Hall 275 Sunrise Center Dr. $100 per table 8 to 10 people per table Doors open at 7:15 p.m. Trivia begins at 8:00 p.m. Prize for the winning table 50/50 Drawing & Raffles Available Cash Bar Appetizers provided For reservations, please contact: Megan Tipton
[email protected] Angie Hustey
[email protected]
Virginia Moyer and Mary Hoffer
We welcome into the Church this weekend through Baptism: Madellen Dawn Marie Goldsmith Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Charles Goldsmith And Mason Anthony Hartge Son of Mr. & Mrs. Anthony Hartge YOUTH MINISTRY NEWS Beautiful - All Girl Event! - Sunday, January 31st. 12:30 4:00 p.m. Girls ages 13-18. Guest Speakers: Kay Denbow & Bernadette Rodgers. Music by Rachel Taylor. Event begins with lunch at 12:30 p.m. Topics include: The Art of Journaling, Bread Baking and True Beauty. The event is free, however reservations are requested. Please call (740) 4535173 to reserve your spot today! St. Nicholas Teen Center Parish Office, Lower Level. PRE JORDAN CLASS Pre Jordan Class for parents and godparents of infants and small children to be baptized will be held on Tuesday, January 26 at 7 PM in the Parish Office Building. Call Mary Lou Staker at 740- 453-7141 to register. ST. NICHOLAS CHOIR The choir will sing at the 5:15 Mass on Saturday, February 13th. We will sing some beautiful Lenten hymns. If you'd like to sing with us please come to choir practice Wednesday, February 3, from 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm. There are no auditions to join the choir - just come Raise a Joyful Voice to the Lord!
Mercy Changes Everything!
"Let the Church always be a place of mercy and hope, where everyone is welcomed, loved, and forgiven." Pope Francis OHIO EXPO CENTER ~ VOINOVICH BUILDING FEBRUARY 20, 2016 ~ 8 A.M. TO 4 P.M. The day begins with Mass followed by a day of inspiration. Hear the testimony of an Atheist Convert, Jennifer Fulwiler. Enjoy the beautiful music of Sarah Kroger. Fr. Cromley will inspire us all to evangelize our great Catholic Faith and Sonja Corbitt’s vivid speaking style will encourage all of us to grow closer to Christ. Of course the day will include the powerful sacrament of Confession as well as intimate time in Adoration. Please join over 2000 women of The Columbus Catholic Diocese. You won’t regret it! http://www.columbuscatholicwomen.com/
A bus will be leaving St. Nicholas Church Parking Lot at 6:30 a.m. Call Patty (740) 453-5173 or the Parish Office to reserve your seat. The bus has been sponsored and is free.
BISHOP FENWICK SCHOOL Welcome Wednesdays Dates: February 10th, March 16th, April 13th K-8 Admissions Open House – Wednesdays 9:30AM-11:30AM Come experience us in action! ~Tour the School ~Interact with students ~Receive Enrollment information Please RSVP 740-454-9731 or
[email protected]
THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE It is your responsibility to find a substitute if needed. January 31, 2016 Saturday, January 30 @ 5:15 p.m. Lector: Nancy Susa, Tom J. Pitcock Server: Ted Lacy, Christina Rozsa Eucharistic Minister – Coord: Dan Snider Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Don Susa, Janis Maziar Eucharistic Minister: Charlotte Snider, Margaret Kronenbitter, Judi Peterson, Karen Robinson Sunday, January 31 @7:30 a.m. Lector: Stephanie Bridwell, Tom C. Pitcock Server: Kailey Zemba, Rex Hankinson Eucharistic Minister- Coord: Jim Hillis Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Nancy Thompson, Judy Hamilton Eucharistic Minister: Sue Hillis Sunday, January 31 @ 9:30 a.m. Lector: Diane Hoffer, Rocky Rowe Server: Nicholas Hoffer, Mason Harmon Eucharistic Minister - Coord: Michael Drake Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Chris Drake, Jane Durant Eucharistic Minister: Cheryl Sylvester, Rosalyn Headington, Tom A. Durant, Dan Sylvester Sunday, January 31 @ 11:30 a.m. Lector: Wendy Hart, Bill Sullivan Server: Nathan Hart, Justin Hart Eucharistic Minister - Coord: Vicki Burns Eucharistic Minister - Wash Vessel: Roger Jones, Rose Jones Eucharistic Minister: Alan Burns, Jim McKee, Paul Ritchey, Molly Ritchey
Our thoughts and prayers remain with those serving our country at this time and with their loved ones at home. We pray for a safe homecoming and that the world may one day be at peace.
PLEASE REMEMBER ST. NICHOLAS PARISH IN YOUR WILL. CALL THE PARISH OFFICE AT 453-0597 FOR MORE DETAILS.
What’s Happening in Our Parish MONDAY, January 25, The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle
8:00 a.m., Mass: John “Bunk” Baker, Church TUESDAY, January 26, St. Timothy and Titus 8:00 a.m., Mass: Ray Touvell, Church WEDNESDAY, January 27, St. Angela Merici 8:10 a.m., School Mass: Paul Bryson, Church 7:00 p.m., R.C.I.A., Parish Office, lower level THURSDAY, January 28, St. Thomas Aquinas 8:00 a.m., Mass: Marjorie Michel, Church
FRIDAY, January 29 8:00 a.m., No Mass SATURDAY, January 30 4:15 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Confessions, Church
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SATURDAY, January 30 5:15 p.m., Mass: Hope E. Buchanan, Church SUNDAY, January 31 7:30 a.m., Mass: Leanne (White) Campbell, Church 9:30 a.m., Mass: St. Nicholas Parishioners, Church 9:45 a.m. Religious Education, School 11:30 a.m., Mass: Living and Deceased members of the Freiermuth Families, Church
Readings for Week of January 25, 2016 Mon. . . . . . . . Tues. . . . . . . . Wed . . . . . . . . Thurs. . . . . . . . Fri. . . . . . . . . . Sat. . . . . . . . . .
INCOME TAX If you would like to have a record of your donations to the Church for tax purposes, please fill in your envelope number, name and address or email and place it in the collection basket. A statement will be sent to you. Envelope No._____________________________ Name___________________________________ Address_________________________________or Email address____________________________
Sun . . . . . . . .
Acts 22:3-16 2 Tm 1:1-8 2 Sm 7:4-17 2 Sm 7:18-19, 24-29 2 Sm 11:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17 2 Sm 12:1-7a, 10-17 Jer 1:4-5, 17-19
Mk 16:15-18 Mk 3:31-35 Mk 4:1-20 Mk 4:21-25 Mk 4:26-34 Mk 4:35-41 Lk 4:21-30
