6th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sunday, February 12, 2012

Jesus heals many A common experience of human illness—no matter how serious—is isolation. A simple cold or the flu can cut us off from other people. A common experience of healing comes when the human touch of another shatters our isolation: the touch of professional healers or the embrace of friends.

Mark’s Gospel knows this human experience. In today’s story, Mark shows Jesus reaching across a huge cultural barrier to touch and heal a leper. For Mark, this story is one of many that identify the mission of Jesus as a struggle against evil, manifested partly in human sickness and suffering. Sickness doesn’t mean the sick person has necessarily sinned, rather illness is part of the evil that Jesus is battling.

The story of the healing of the leper is full of emotion. We sense God’s power at work. The man is invited to re-connect with the community, signaling the end of his isolation through a ritual visit to the priests. The power at work in Jesus cannot be kept secret. Word spreads far and wide.

How have you or I become isolated from the community of believers? How is Jesus calling us to re-connect? At Sunday Eucharist we’re invited to lay aside our isolation, and to witness to one another what Christ has done for us.
- by Franciscan Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M, courtesy of FranciscanMedia.org, Copyright © 1996-2010

RESPECT LIFE

To trust in God’s timing for our passing into eternity requires courage, humility, and sometimes great spiritual strength. This final stage of life, when we focus our attention on the things that really count, can be a time of deep reflection, of forgiveness and reconciliation within the family, and of finding peace in one’s relationship with God. When dying persons and their families give witness to their love for each other and their trust in God, we can say, “This was a beautiful life and beautiful and holy death.”

LIVING THE EUCHARIST

Our parish is participating in Living the Eucharist. This Lenten spiritual renewal program provides us with opportunities to grow in our faith through learning more about the Eucharist, participating more actively in Sunday Mass, and living the Eucharist each day as disciples of Jesus. Sign-up sheets are in the vestibule for those who would like to join a small group that will meet weekly for shared faith and prayer. Beginning this weekend, February 11 and 12, a Lenten devotional booklet entitled,, From Exodus to Easter: My Daily Journey Through Lent, will be available at the entrances of our church. There will also be some Family Activity Booklets available for parents who would like to do something special with their children in their homes.

LENTEN FAITH-SHARING/PRAYER GROUPS

As part of our Lenten Living the Eucharist process, there are four small groups planned for faith sharing and prayer. The groups will meet weekly for about 90 minutes over a six week period beginning the week of February 20th. The sign-up sheets are in the vestibule. Here is a list of the groups: Tuesdays at 8:30 a.m. facilitated by Rita Sangiorgi and Hannah Wilkin; Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. facilitated by Connie Montler; Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. (for 4 sessions) and on Saturdays at 8:30 a.m. (for 2 sessions) facilitated by Msgr. Carson; and Thursdays at 6:00 p.m. facilitated by Mike and Deb Kelleher.

CONFIRMATION PREPARATION FOR 10TH GRADE TEENAGERS

There will be a Confirmation Preparation Session for 10th grade candidates and their parents on Sunday, February 19, from 1:30 p.m. until about 3:00 p.m. The meeting/session is for teenagers from Catholic and public high schools. Each of our Sacraments is an encounter with, and an expression of a relationship with, Jesus Christ and His Church.

EUCHARISTIC DAY OF PRAYER

This month’s Eucharistic Day of Prayer will be on Sunday, February 26. We will have exposition of the Blessed Sacrament from after the noon Mass until Benediction at 5:00 p.m.

ASH WEDNESDAY

Lent begins on February 22. Ashes will be distributed during Masses at 7:45 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. Ashes will also be distributed during a Prayer Service at 3:00 p.m.

DONATION

A parishioner, who wishes to remain anonymous, has paid for the cost of the new light poles and fixtures in our church parking lot. They have additionally paid for the cost of the electricity for a number of years. Their generosity is greatly appreciated!

In Your Prayers

Please remember in your prayers the health intention of Arlene Balestino, Jim Balestino, Alisa Battisti, Nathan Battisti, Becky Bettwy, Robert Bollinger, Emma Helen Brolley, Diane Brown, Kierra Chirdon, John Clouser, Denise Conrad, Susie Dalansky, Dr. Ron Dietrick, Thomas Dobson, Marian Dodson, Debra Dorazio, May Duey, Jacob Eshlenan, Helen Farrell, Gianna Feather, John Frank, Bob Frederick, Rita Gensamer, Lucas Gonzalez, Anna Marie Gority, Helen Gummo, Tim Hileman, Janet Hilton, Wendy Himes, Genevieve Hornung, Nancy James, Ken Keagy, Larry Knott, Sr., Russell Krenn, Clara Lindsay, Max Manney, Mary Ann McDermott, Brigid McManaman, Sue McMullen, Debbie Murtagh, John Nale, Joe Peroni, Conrad Powell, Rene Reynolds, Richard Rickard, Joan Robison, Elia Rocci, Jacqueline Smith, Robert Straw, Sr., Pete Szebin, Peggy Trexler, Kathy Wagner, Rhonda Weyandt.

In the event our prayers have helped, you are asked to call the rectory to have your name removed from the list. You can always have it put back on if need be. Thank you.

To have a name added to the prayer list, please call the rectory office before noon on Monday to have the name placed in that weekend’s bulletin. You must have the person’s permission to print their name.

Sacred Heart Church