The Baptism of the Lord January 11, 2015 The Navigator El Navegante St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church Cumming, GA Go Baptize Teach Vayan Bauticen Enseñen It is not too late to give a Christmas gift to our parish. Hymnal donation envelopes are available in the new pew racks. Completed envelopes can be dropped in the collection basket or brought by the office. Preschool Open House beginning Jan. 14 see details inside. Please help us keep the new pew racks clean and orderly. Mass Etiquette: Please, no bulletin reading during Mass. Imagine if you invited a guest to your house and before dinner (or during) they decided to read a magazine instead of talking to you. That is what is happening in God's house when you read the bulletin. Thought for the day: It might be useful to ask ourselves, Who am I? Why am I here? The answers: To know God, to love him and serve Him especially at Mass! ENJOY in the LORD S presence during the Eucharist Celebration. What a great time to talk to our children or grandchildren about their own baptism! Here are some suggested ways you may help your children learn more about this sacrament: pull out some baptismal photos of their special day (or yours, if you have them), phone the godparents and talk to them about their faith, add the anniversary of the baptism to your family calendar, make a special visit to the church where the baptism was celebrated
Pastoral Staff Rev. Fr. Matthew VanSmoorenburg, L.C., Pastor... frmatthew@stbrendansatl.com, ext. 42 Rev. Fr. Juan Guerra, L.C., Parochial Vicar... frjuanguerra@stbrendansatl.com, ext. 12 Rev. Fr. Patrick Langan, L.C., Parochial Vicar plangan@stbrendansatl.com Rev. Fr. Jason Brooks, L.C, Parochial Vicar... frjason@stbrendansatl.com Rev. Mr. Roger Fraser, Deacon... rfraser@stbrendansatl.com Rev. Mr. Luis Carlos Lorza, Deacon llorza@stbrendansatl.com, ext. 43 Rev. Mr. Ed Rubio, Deacon... erubio@stbrendansatl.com How Do I? Register at the parish? Visit www.stbrendansatl.com/online-registration or pick up a Welcome packet in the Narthex. Receive personalized offertory envelopes? Elba Banderas at ebanderas@stbrendansatl.com or ext. 10. Make arrangements for a wedding? Contact Fr. Juan, ext. 12 at least six months before an anticipated wedding date. Contact someone about my interest to become Catholic? Amy Comacho at acamacho@stbrendansatl.com. Contact a Priest in a Sacramental Emergency? Phone 678-224-8448, 24 hours a day. Arrange for Communion to the sick or homebound? Call the parish office at 770-205-7969. Arrange to have my child baptized? Sandy Spera, ext 27 (English), Deacon Luis Carlos Lorza, ext. 43 (Spanish) Request Baptismal, Confirmation or Marriage certificate? Luisa Rubio, lrubio@stbrendansatl.com or ext. 15. Place an announcement in the bulletin? Online form available at www.stbrendansatl.com/calendar or contact Susan Shirley, sshirley@stbrendansatl.com, ext. 14. Receive information about an annulment? Deacon Roger Fraser, rfraser@stbrendansatl.com. Reconnect with the Catholic Church? Don Conklin, dconklin@stbrendansatl.com or ext. 40. Register my child/children for Religious Education? Margaret Frain, mfrain@stbrendansatl.com or ext. 33 (English), or Monica Plew, mplew@stbrendansatl.com or ext. 26 (Spanish) Schedule a Funeral or Burial? Lynne Sterritt, lsterritt@stbrendansatl.com or ext. 19. Schedule an appointment with a priest? Mary Ann Mallon, mmallon@stbrendansatl.com or ext. 11. Request a Mass intention? Elba Banderas ext. 10. Reserve a meeting space at St. Brendan? Online form available at www.stbrendansatl.com/calendar. Volunteer in the parish? Volunteer opportunities are updated weekly and listed online at www.stbrendansatl.com/volunteeropportunities/ Seek counseling services for myself or my family? Holy Family Counseling Center, 678-993-8494 or Catholic Charities of Atlanta, 404-920-7725. Receive assistance from the St. Joseph s Food Pantry? Open Wed. 4:30 6:30 pm in the Barn behind the Church or contact Barbara Gordon at bargaradgordon@aol.com, 770-888-3258. Seek emergency financial assistance? Good Samaritan Hotline: 770-205-2324; leave a message and expect a call back within 24 hours. Sign up for electronic giving? Look for the online giving link on our homepage at www.stbrendansatl.com or Laura Myers, lmyers@stbrendansatl.com, ext. 21. Receive a tax receipt for donations? Laura Myers, lmyers@stbrendansatl.com, ext. 21. MASS SCHEDULE HORARIO DE MISAS Saturday Vigil: 5:00 pm & 7:00 pm (en Español) Sunday: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am, 1:00 pm (en Español), 5:00 pm Daily Mass Monday Saturday: 8:30 am Tuesday, Thurs. & Fri.: 6:00 pm Wednesday: 7:00 pm (en Español) Rosary after weekday am Mass The Chaplet of the Divine Mercy en Español Sundays at 12:30 pm Eucharistic Adoration in St. Sebastian Chapel Tuesday - 6:30 pm Wednesday 6:45 pm Reconciliation Saturday: 9:00 a.m. until last person served and 3:30-4:45 pm Tuesday: 4:30-5:45 pm Wednesday: 5:30-6:45 pm English and en Español Please note: Mass times may vary on Holy Days. Check the Mass Intentions in this bulletin or the website calendar. Parish Office Hours: Oficina Parroquial: Mon Thurs 9:00 am 4:00 pm, Fri 9:00 am 1:00 pm Maintenance Personnel Contact Info: Mac McKinney 678-467-6490 Melvin Rogers 404-313-2330 Alex Ayala 770-500-9341 St. Brendan the Navigator Catholic Church 4633 Shiloh Road Cumming, GA 30040 Phone: 770-205-7969, Fax: 770-205-5040 WWW.STBRENDANSATL.COM
Shop Online? What if your everyday purchases could help St. Brendan s Church? With Amazon Smile they can! Go to this link & sign in to your Amazon account: http://smile.amazon.com/ch/ 58-2473782 You will be automatically linked with St. Brendan s. A percentage of any shopping that you do will go directly to support our church. Annual Appeal Overage Funds Make a Real Difference Just recently, St. Brendan's was able to purchase and install new pew racks for the church. This was enabled by the work of our parishioners who contributed to the AAA campaign in 2014 and to one particular benefactor of the parish who saw the need and wanted to help. The new pew racks arrived just in time for our Christmas Masses and will hold hymnals and various other worship aids and material. Thank you to all who contributed to this great addition to our worship space. St. Brendan s Preschool Open House When: Jan. 14 & 22, 2015 Time: 10:00 am Place: Social Hall Are you thinking about a Catholic Preschool experience for your child? Spaces are limited and registration will be on February 7 th at 12:00 for new students. Parish members get to register first on that day!! We offer a theme- based curriculum with many exciting and enriching experiences for the children. Our Catholic Faith is sprinkled into all that we do with school- wide prayers and virtues of the month as well as visits to the church and from our clergy. We are excited to be implementing a preschool Mass for our four and five year olds with Father Jason! We are hoping to implement a preschool mass for our four and five year olds next year!! Please join us for one of our open houses. We would love to show you our school. For more information, contact Julie Lahey at jlahey@stbrendansatl.com 2015 Offertory Pledge Update During November, St. Brendan s asked parishioners to renew their 2015 Offertory treasure pledge. We received many pledges over a two week period. If you have not yet pledged your treasure contribution for the 2015 period please pick up an envelope in the Narthex, complete it and drop it in the Offertory basket. It is important for purposes of budgeting in the next year that we know what each parishioner is able and willing to pledge to the operational support of St. Brendan s. This year we will provide quarterly updates to parishioners who have pledged indicating paid against pledged amounts. Thank you for your continued support of St. Brendan s mission to Go, Baptize and Teach. Gospel Reflection - The Baptism of the Lord "I am not worthy to stoop and loosen the thongs of his sandals." That was a lowly job. Removing someone's sandals back in the days when everyone walked everywhere on dusty, sandy desert ground was a dirty task. So when John the Baptist said he wasn't even worthy for that humble duty, he was emphasizing an important point. John understood Jesus' real identity. He knew that this was not just another good man, not just a wise teacher or a gifted leader. John realized that Jesus was truly God-made-man. And because of this, the prophet also comprehended how perfect Jesus was. In relation to this perfection, John honestly acknowledged his own sinfulness with this analogy about the sandals. But look what happened: even though John proclaimed that "one mightier than I is coming after me," Jesus showed up at the Jordan River and asked John to baptize him! Jesus humbled himself by going through this ritual of cleansing and purification, even though he didn't need to. John may have thought himself unworthy, but that didn't stop Jesus from coming to him. Jesus wants to come to us too. Not because we have "earned" his love or because we are "worthy" of some great honor, but simply because he loves us. God sent his Son to us to be one of us, to walk among us, to care for us and guide us. When we were baptized, he counted us among his beloved children in a special way, but that joyful bond is not a thing of the past. By our baptism we are always his children, even when we may be disobedient or belligerent ones. His love is not calculated or quantified; it is a free gift. May we appreciate this gift enough to show our gratitude by a life well lived.
Pinecrest Academy, a private, PreK 12, College- Preparatory Catholic School, invites you to an Open House on Sunday, January 25, 2015, 1pm- 3pm. Pinecrest Academy is a 2014 National Blue Ribbon School and has been recognized by the Catholic School Honor Roll as a School of Excellence for eight consecutive years. Pinecrest is located at 955 Peachtree Parkway in Cumming. For more information, please visit www.pinecrestacademy.org or call (770) 888-4477. Faith + Facebook Bring your faith into your social sphere Like us on Facebook and choose Get Notifications to get updates from St. Brendan s, event and Mass information, and well as links to posts to help you build your faith life. Tip: you may link to St. Brendan s Facebook page from the home page of the website www.stbrendansatl.com. Check the List and Help St. Brendan's Many local businesses are willing to reward St. Brendan's financially when you use their services. Before you spend a dime... Check the List! www.movingforcharity.com Ask a business today to become a sponsor and join the list and you can help raise funds for our church. Check out the website for more information or call Debbie Krenzer 678-347- 5774. Readings for the Week of January 11, 2015 Sunday: Is 55:1-11 or Is 42:1-4, 6-7/1 Jn 5:1-9 or Acts 10:34-38/Mk 1:7-11 Monday: Heb 1:1-6/Mk 1:14-20 Tuesday: Heb 2:5-12/Mk 1:21-28 Wednesday: Heb 2:14-18/Mk 1:29-39 Thursday: Heb 3:7-14/Mk 1:40-45 Friday: Heb 4:1-5, 11/Mk 2:1-12 Saturday: Heb 4:12-16/Mk 2:13-17 Next Sunday: 1 Sm 3:3b-10, 19/1 Cor 6:13c-15a, 17-20/Jn 1:35-42 Contribution Statements For 2014 Laura Myers, A/R Bookkeeper, ext. 21, lmyers@stbrendansatl.com Contribution Statements for tax year 2014 will be mailed out by January 31 st to the address currently on file at the parish. Contributions made through the Archdiocese for the benefit of St. Brendan (not the Archbishop s Annual Appeal) prior to year- end will be included in the St. Brendan statement. In addition, statements for any one- time donations of $250- plus will be mailed out at the same time as required by the IRS. If you do not receive your mailed statement(s), please email or call after February 7th to request a duplicate. Marriage Enrichment Series Fri. Jan. 16, 2015 6:45 pm - 9:00 pm Three Hearts God s Plan for Marriage Led by parishioners, Mike and Stacy Applegate, this evening will revolve around their personal experience of living the Church s teaching on marriage, the Theology of the Body and intimacy. All presented in a light, informal style. For more info. contact Don Conklin dconklin@stbrendansatl.com. Catholic Children s Bibles Available Start the New Year off right with your children by reading from the Catholic Children's Bible. These are the first- ever complete (all the books of the Bible) children's Bible that not only inspires but empowers children to read, live, understand and love the Word of God. You can purchase one at the front desk for $30.00. Catechists Needed The Youth Faith Formation Office has openings for Catechists for the New Year, if you are interested in helping out please contact Sara Martinez at smartinez@stbrendansatl.com or at 770-205- 7969 ext. 33. Training and materials are provided; the gift to our children is priceless. Seniors Luncheon The St. Brendan's Seniors will meet for lunch at Coo Coo's Nest, 1920 Freedom Parkway, Cumming, GA 30041 at 11:30 AM on Thursday, January 15, 2015. Another Successful Blood Drive A huge thanks to all of you that made the Dec 21st blood drive a tremendous success. Fifty three pints were collected, which can assist in saving up to 159 lives. In 2014, St. Brendan Catholic Church collected a total of 254 lifesaving units of blood which helped to save 762 patients! Our next drive will be held on Sunday, February 22, 2015 from 8:00 am 1:00 pm.
Enhanced Online Giving Opportunity If you like on- line giving, you're going to love this! Effective immediately all the second collection funds have been added to our web based online giving program. This feature allows you to make your regular offertory gift to St. Brendan's, as well as any second collection requests that are scheduled. Making your donations electronically reduces the paperwork for yourself and for the parish staff, insures correct application of the donation for tax purposes, and when you set your donation up for repeating transactions, you can set it and forget it! To take advantage of this method of giving, go to the "On- line Giving" button on our website, www.stbrendansatl.com. Mass Intentions/Intenciones para las Misas Monday 12)Jan 8:30/AM Gina/Teresas/Ellis/(D) Tuesday 13)Jan 8:30/AM Kim/Martiny/(D) 6:00/PM Paul/Houck/(L) Wednesday 14)Jan 8:30/AM Al/Galette/(L) 7:00/PM All/Souls/(D) Thursday 15)Jan 8:30/AM Lillian/Mae/Conklin/(D) 6:00/PM Nancy/Jensen/&/Family/(L) Friday 16)Jan 8:30/AM Lucenda/Morris/(D) 6:00/PM Christopher/Crawford/(L) Saturday 17)Jan 8:30/AM Eileen/Langan/(L) 5:00/PM 7:00/PM Miguel/Rueda/(D) Josefina/Gutiérrez/(D) Sunday 18)Jan 7:30/AM For/the/People/of/Our/Parish/(L) 9:00/AM 11:00/AM 1:00/PM 5:00/PM Miguel/J./Dimayuga/(D) Sandra/Akerley/Stella/(D) Pascual/R./Terrero/(D) Roman/Avila/(D) If#you#would#like#to#request#a#Mass#Intention##please#contact#Elba#Banderas# Ph.#770>205>7969#Ext.#10#during#office#hours#or#at#the#Reception#Desk Para#solicitar#intenciones#para#la#Misa#favor#comunicarse#con#Elba#Banderas Tel.##770>205>7969#Ext.#10#durante#horas#de#oficina#o#en#la#Recepción by#mary#hall by#lynn#martiny by#laurie#johnson #Self by#the#gonzález#family by#judith#&#harvey#kaplan by#st.#brendan's#clergy#&#staff by#the#russo#family by#francisca#sonmez by#fr.#patrick#langan,#l.c. by#flor#rueda by#eugenio#serna#&#family by#geraldine#torres by#the#marino#family by#deacon#luis#lorza's#family by#virgie#whited Parish Stewardship of Treasure December-2014 7"Dec"14 $35,090.00 14"Dec"14 $38,366.00 21"Dec"14 $38,824.00 25"Dec"14 $48,308.00 28"Dec"14 $24,911.00 Electronic9Giving9for9the9Month: $15,707.00 Total: $201,206.00 Offertory9Monthly9Budget: $128,000.00 Overage9/9Shortage9for9the9period: $73,206.00 Offertory9Actual9YTD: $872,546.00 Offertory9Budget9YTD: $832,000.00 Overage9/9Shortage9YTD: $40,546.00 Last9Week's9Second9Collection: 9 Catholic)Charities $9,611.00 Adult)Faith)Formation $2,602.00 ) 9 Building-Fund Current9Month9Contributions: $24,559.00 9 9 9 9 9 Where Your Annual Appeal Gifts are Spent: The largest portion of the Archbishop's Annual Appeal goes toward the Vocations Office. The Archdiocese of Atlanta is blessed with over 50 seminarians. The cost to educate a seminarian is significant, totaling approximately $40,000 per year. Most men are in the seminary for six years before they are ordained to the priesthood. Help prepare the next generation of priests who will bring us the Eucharist, marry our children, and baptize our grandchildren. Make your gift to the Archbishop's Annual Appeal today at www.archatl.com. Archbishop's-Annual-Appeal-Update-2014 Goal $131,300.00 Outstanding9Pledges $38,707.87 Payments9to9date $193,028.76 9 9
LEGIÓN DE MARÍA Se reúne todos los Lunes de 7:00pm a 8:15pm en el salón de conferencias detrás de la sacristía. Informes al (404) 314-2932, o en el correo electrónico: Legion.virgenpoderosa.ga@gmail.co m CRISTO RENUEVA SU PARROQUIA Grupo de Mujeres, se reúne todos los Martes a las 7:00pm en el Centro de Aprendizaje. Esta reunión es para miembros ya iniciados. Informes al (404) 353-1802 con Miriam Torres. DEVOCION AL DIVINO NIÑO Se reúne todos los Miércoles después de la misa de 7:00pm a rezar la novena al divino Niño. Informes con Alba Mendez al (813) 758-8989. UNA HORA CON EL SEÑOR Se reúne todos los Jueves de 7:30pm a 9:00pm en la Iglesia. Todos son bienvenidos. Informes al (678) 481-2680 con Héctor López. CRISTO RENUEVA SU PARROQUIA Grupo de Hombres, se reúne to- dos los Viernes a las 7:30pm en el Centro de Vida Espiritual. Informes al (404) 353-1802 con Raúl Tapia. RENOVACIÓN CARISMÁTICA Grupo de Oración Jesús y María se reúne todos los Viernes de 6:45pm -8:15pm en la Capilla -para orar juntos por la iglesia y sus necesidades, y por la paz del mundo. Informes al (404) 933-5310. Acompáñenos! BAUTIZOS DE LOS NIÑOS Las familias interesadas en el Sacramento del Bautismo para los niños deben ser miembros registrados y activos de la Iglesia, atender la clase de preparación bautismal y cumplir con los requisitos de la Arquidiócesis de Atlanta. La clase de preparación bautismal se imparte una vez al mes y el cupo es limitado. Para información y registros del Bautismo, por favor llame al Diácono Luis Carlos al (770) 205-7969 ext. 43. Acompáñenos a nuestro Café 107! Domingo 11 de Enero y 1 de Febrero 8:00am a las 12:30pm Costo $7 por persona Plan Familiar $30 ESTRENANDO NUEVOS ESTANTES! Como han notado tenemos nuevos libreros (estantes) instalados en los bancos para poner lápices, libros misales, y con su ayuda: nuevos libros de canto!! Esperamos contar con su apoyo para la compra de estos libros de canto. Su donación de $30 nos ayudará con la compra de ellos, estos libros nos servirán por años venideros. Una placa con la intención del donador será colocada en cada libro donado. Esperamos poder contar con su ayuda; por favor deposite su sobre con su intención especial y deposítelos en la canasta de las limosnas. CORONILLA DE LA DIVINA MISERICOR- DIA Todos los Domingos a las 12:30pm en la Iglesia. Informes con Tania Montes (404) 314-2932.