January 3: Parish E-Bulletin for the Epiphany of the Lord

The Epiphany of the Lord- January 3, 2021

SUNDAY READINGS

SUNDAY REFLECTION

BEYOND THE DARKNESS OF A CLOSED WORLD

Dear Friends,

This weekend, we celebrate the Epiphany of the Lord. Epiphany does not take place in a closed mind, closed heart or in a closed world. It is in the encounters of open mind, heart and world that epiphany takes place.

Here is a beautiful reflection from Pope Benedict XVI: “The message of Christmas makes us recognize the darkness of a closed world, and thereby no doubt illustrates a reality that we see daily. Yet it also tells us that God does not allow Himself to be shut out. He finds a space, even if it means entering through the stable; there are people who see His light and pass it on. Through the word of the Gospel, the angel also speaks to us, and in the sacred liturgy the light of the Redeemer enters our lives. Whether we are shepherds or ‘wise men” the light and its message calls us to set out, to leave the narrow circle or our desires and interests, to go out to meet the Lord and worship him. We worship Him by opening the world to truth, to good, to Christ, to the service of those who are marginalized and in whom He awaits us.”

You can sum up the festival of Epiphany with two phrases, and these phrases are: 'from darkness to light' and 'closemindedness to openness'. “Arise,” God says to you, “Shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.” Let the darkness in us die. May this epiphany be for us in the words of T. S. Eliot:

This: were we led all that way for Birth or Death?

There was a Birth, certainly,

We had evidence and no doubt.

I had seen birth and death,

But had thought they were different;

this Birth was

Hard and bitter agony for us, like

Death, our death.

A Death of Darkness and birth of light, A death of closed worlds and the birth of encounters.

Fr. Saju Joseph

LITURGY

MASS SCHEDULE

Due to COVID-19 purple tier regulations, all in-person & in-car Masses are currently being held outside in front of the church.

WEEKDAYS

Monday - Friday 8:00 AM

(Live-stream only)

WEEKENDS

Sunday Vigil - Saturday 5:00 PM

(Live-stream only)

Sunday 8:30 AM, 10:00 AM, 11:30 AM

in front of the Church

(In-person & In-car / Sign ups required)

Additional Sunday Masses will be added if all scheduled Masses are full, so please sign up early (see below).

IN-CAR MASS

Many families have joined us at Sunday Mass from their cars. It is so joyful to see those who otherwise would not be able to attend Mass. We are able to accommodate 40 cars. We will do our best to direct cars in such a way that families can see and hear the celebration. If you would like to attended, please sign up at the link above. All cars should arrive 10-15 minutes early and enter through the first gate on O'Connor Drive. Holy Communion will be brought to each car. This will not change the in person Mass schedule, sign up and attendance.

Reserve only ONE spot for each car (Click below for sign up and guidelines)

HOLY HOUR

Join us via zoom, for Holy Hour

THURSDAY, JANUARY 7 AT 7:00 PM

JOIN HOLY HOUR VIA ZOOM

MASS INTENTIONS

January 2 - January 8

To schedule a Mass intention, please email stmartinoftours@icloud.com.

Saturday 5:00pm - Ramon B de Jesus †

Sunday 8:30am - James & Vincee Viso †

Princely Indigahawala †

Sunday 10:00am - James C. Harvey †

Sunday 11:30am - Mary Margaret Rossi †

Monday 8:00am - Irma McKinnon †

Tuesday 8:00am - Charles Lauer †

Wednesday 8:00am - Arline Norsworthy †

Thursday 8:00am - Jim Schallau †

Friday 10:00am - Souls in Purgatory

PRAYER REQUEST FOR THE DECEASED:

Gregory Olmeda, Jr., Isabel Costanza, Judy Corrippo, Ole Regalo, Fred Gerritz, Lionel Ortega, Marina Dizon

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE SICK:

Ismael Amezquita, Romalia Amezquita, Alan Guinto, Ric Tomlinson, Betsy Doyle, Helena Knapen, Rosalia Russo, Kathy Tobin, Jose Parrasseril, Lesley Paul

Please pray with us for our parishioners, family and friends.

PRAYER ANGELS MINISTRY

Prayer is one of the greatest gifts you can give another. If you or someone you know is in need of prayers (sick, deceased, birthday, anniversary...), please email Therese Lehane at tlehane@stmartin.org and let our Prayer Angels pray for you or someone you know.

FAITH FORMATION & SPIRITUALITY

FAMILY REFLECTION AND ACTION

January 3, 2021 Epiphany of the Lord

Isaiah 60:1-6 • Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 • Matthew 2:1-12

They were overjoyed at seeing the star... —Matt. 2:10

The Magi were called to find the child that had come into the world as a king. They knew that he was the chosen one. They made many sacrifices in order to find him and most likely encountered hardships on their journey. They didn’t quit. They didn’t give up. They persevered. Can you imagine their joy in finally arriving at their destination, the place where the child lay in his mother’s arms? It must have been the greatest blessing they’d ever known. We can have that same joy when we seek out Jesus in our lives and find him.

Prayer: Lord, teach us to look and search for you in our lives with the same desire that the Magi had when they set out on their journey.

Reflection: How do you seek Jesus in your life? When you find him, how does it make you feel?

CHILDREN'S SUNDAY BULLETIN & ACTIVITIES

Web Link for this week - Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities:

CLICK HERE

STEWARDSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

PARISH DIRECTORIES

Our parish photo directories are here. All parishioners that took part in the directory, it is time to pickup your copy of the printed church directory at the parish office!!! You can schedule a time to pick up your copy of the directory by calling the parish office at 408-294-8953. Thank you!

PLEASE SUPPORT OUR PARISH AND MINISTRIES

Thank you for your support to the parish! We need your financial support now more than ever to continue our ministries. The online donation system that we use is safe, secure and convenient. You can use credit cards, debit cards or direct transfer from your bank account. Please use the button below for online donations and offerings to the parish. If you are unable to give online or at Mass, please mail in your weekly offertory gift to: 200 O'Connor Dr., San Jose, CA 95128.

Our second collection this weekend, January 3rd, is for the Liturgy Fund.

DONATE NOW

THANK YOU FOR SPONSORING

CAR SEATS FOR GHS

Thank you for your generosity Areias Family, Doyle Family, LaVelle Family, Moore Family, Peters Family, Rhodes Family, Velasco Famil and Wheeler Family in helping to provide new car seats for moms to bring their babies home from the hospital. Your kindness is a true blessing!

The Guadalupe Hope Society's (GHS) Women's Center is still in need of one more car seat. They cost between $200 - $250 each. If you are willing to sponsor, please contact the parish office. Thank you for your generosity!

PLEASE UPDATE YOUR CONTACT INFORMATION

We are in the process of cleaning up our internal parishioner database. Please take a minute to submit your information (see below). This contact information is confidential and is used only to stay in touch with our parishioners. Thank you!!

Submit Contact Information

PARISH OFFICE IS OPEN FOR ESSENTIAL OPERATIONS

Our parish office is open for essential operations from Monday - Thursday from 9am to 5pm. Please call ahead to make an appointment at (408) 294-8953. For staff directory and email addresses: Click Here.

We are Here for You

If you or a loved one are in need of Sacramental care, such as anointing of the sick, last rites, confession, Fr. Gener and I will be available to assist you. Please be sure to call the Parish office to leave a message or email us.

ST. MARTIN OF TOURS SCHOOL

AROUND THE DIOCESE & USA

Men's Virtual Discernment Weekend:

January 29-31, 2021. Is God calling you to the priesthood? In this retreat you will have the chance to explore the priesthood, listen to priest's vocation stories and learn about steps for discernment, values of priestly life and the structure of seminary formation during a weekend of prayer, discussions & fraternity.

Click here for more information or contact vocations@dsj.org.

Women's Virtual Discernment Weekend:

February 5-7, 2021. What does it mean to have a vocation and discern it? How do you know when you are called to marriage or consecrated life? We know you have these questions and we want to help you find some answers! The Diocese of San Jose Vocations Office invites young adult women aged 18-40 to a free bilingual retreat weekend!

Click here for more information or contact vocations@dsj.org.

POPE DEDICATES 2021 AS YEAR OF ST JOSEPH

Pope Francis has announced a special year dedicated to St. Joseph starting from 8 December 2020 until 8 December 2021, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the proclamation of St. Joseph as the Patron of the Universal Church, as well as the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady. It is also so fitting that this coincided with the 40th anniversary of the Diocese of San Jose.

The Apostolic Penitentiary also issued a decree granting special indulgences for the duration of the special year to celebrate the anniversary and “to perpetuate the entrustment of the whole Church to the powerful patronage of the Custodian of Jesus.”