The Epiphany of the Lord
January 2, 2022
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With a Heart Full of Gratitude
Dear Friends,
One of the parishioners came to me the other day and asked me, "Father, what do you feel as you enter into the New Year?" I responded to the person by saying "I enter into the new year with gratitude for the last year and hope for the future."
In spite of the continuing pandemic, I have enough reasons to be thankful for the past year 2021. A vaccine became available that reduced the number of deaths and severity of the pandemic. We were able to gather together inside the church for worship. Children could come back to school and connect personally with teachers and classmates.
I am also extremely grateful to St. Martin of Tours parish community for being leaven of God's kingdom in various ways. Your sharing of time, talent and treasure made last year a great year for our parish. We started ministry to farm worker families and children. Your gifts, generosity, volunteer's time to gift wrap, transport, and give to the farm workers families made a big difference. We continued to serve our brothers and sisters in need by our food pantry and St. Vincent De Paul Society. We had the biggest cloak drive ever by collecting over 800 cloaks. We were able to distribute them to the farm workers and to our homeless brothers and sisters. What a great way to be a community.
On the spiritual side, we were able to have a solemn celebration of the feast of St. Martin of Tours with candlelight procession and begin a new tradition. Many children are excited about the Discipleship Passport initiative. Speakers series that enrich us were well attended. New catechists have joined the catechetical team and the faith formation is seeing new vigor.
On the financial front - we balanced our budget, completed a mini silent capital campaign that raised $150,000. Our parish buildings and grounds are well kept.
We are blessed with a great team of parish and school staff, gracious parishioners and school parents, volunteers who step up when needed. I thank you and the Lord for you. Grateful is my feeling about 2021 and hope filled is my feeling for 2022 - all because of you.
Blessings,
Fr. Saju
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MASS SCHEDULE
WEEKDAYS
Monday - Friday 8:00 AM
INDOOR & Live-Streamed
WEEKENDS
Sunday Vigil - Saturday 5:00 PM
INDOOR & Live-Streamed
Sunday 8:30 AM
OUTDOORS & IN-CAR
Sunday 10:00 AM and 11:30 AM
INDOOR
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LIVE-STREAM LINKS
(Click Buttons Below)
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Anyone that feels sick, has tested COVID positive, or has been exposed to a person who is COVID positive should stay home and attend the live-stream Mass.
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Mass Intentions
January 1 - January 7
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Saturday 9:00am - Frank Zarka †,
Joe Salberg †, and Josephine R Ferrer Ella
Saturday 5:00pm - Latoza Family
Sunday 8:30am - St. Martin of Tours Parishioners
Sunday 10:00am - Lydia McMahan †
Sunday 11:30am - St. Martin of Tours Parishioners
Monday 8:00am - James & Vincee Viso †
Tuesday 8:00am - Right to Life
Wednesday 8:00am - Right to Life and Helen Almonte †
Thursday 8:00am - St. Martin of Tours Parishioners
Friday 8:00am - James Schallau †
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PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE DECEASED:
Jerry Romero,
Dion Campisi,
Estella Alvarez Da Valdez,
Verla Perry,
Marie Catherine Lindsay
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PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE SICK:
Donald Bowen,
Linda Murray, Laura Dominguez, Tony Jones, Nadja Haddad, Jo Baroni, Jose Mendoza, Sr. Rose Mary Maguire, Michael Joseph, Dee Jackson, Sofia Rita Vernacchia, Helena Knapen, Hilaria Amezquita, Joe Arant, Kyle Anderson
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Please pray with us for our parishioners, family and friends. |
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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. |
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Upcoming Parish Events... |
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Thursday, January 6
CCM sessions resume
4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
Thursday, January 6
Holy Hour Adoration and Benediction
7:00 p.m. in the Church
Sunday, January 9th
RCIA sessions resume
11:30 a.m. in the Parish Office
Sunday, January 9th
Confirmation sessions resume
4:00 - 5:15 p.m. in the Community Building
Tuesday, January 13th
Speaker Series
4:00 - 5:15 p.m. in the Church
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For a complete list of Parish events:
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Holy Hour
PLEASE JOIN US ON
Thursday, January 6th at 7:00pm
In the Church or via Zoom for Holy Hour
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Speaker Series
For over 2000 years, Christians have felt the sacredness of God through stories, stained glass, music, sculpture, drama, poetry, and painting. These arts speak to different age groups, learning styles and educational levels, offering a way to engage respectfully with a multicultural world. We are made in the image of a creative God; we are God’s artwork, and appreciating human creativity draws us closer to the Creator. We’ll explore visual arts, literature, and music in a context of beauty, where no interpretation is wrong. Then we’ll ask how our lives can be works of art.
Please join us Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 4:00pm-5:15pm in the church as we listen to Kathy Coffey talk about “The Art of Faith”, inviting us to see with the eyes of faith and to see our own lives as unique and priceless works of art. Kathy Coffey is the author of many books such as Hidden Women of the Gospels, More Hidden Women of the Gospels (Orbis) ,and When the Saints Came Marching In (Liturgical Press). She taught for fifteen years at the University of Colorado, Denver, and Regis Jesuit University. She has won sixteen awards from the Catholic Press Association, the Foley Poetry Award from America magazine, and several others. She has spoken at national conventions such as the Los Angeles and East Coast Congresses, NCCL, NCEA and many diocesan gatherings. Her own spirituality has been shaped by 49 years of parenting and 10 years of grandparenting. A widow, the mother of four and grandmother of six, she lives in the Bay area, CA. For more information, see her website: kathyjcoffey.com.
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STEWARDSHIP & DEVELOPMENT |
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Parish Support
We thank you for your continued support in 2021. As we begin the New Year, we ask you to please continue to help us in supporting our ministries. If you would like to make a secure one-time donation and/or setup regular online donations, please use the GIVE NOW button. We appreciate your kindness! Thank you again and Happy New Year!!
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Parish Office Hours
Monday -Thursday 10 AM to 5 PM
If you or a loved one is in need of Sacramental care, such as anointing of the sick, last rites or confession, Fr. Gener & Fr. Saju are available. Please contact them directly using the staff directory below.
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Liturgical Ministries
Volunteer Signups
If you are interested in being a lector, usher, eucharistic minister or altar server, use the button below to signup. If you have any questions, please contact the parish office at 408-294-8953. Thank you!!
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FAITH FORMATION & SPIRITUALITY |
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Dates to Remember
RCIA:
January 2 – Holiday Break
January 9 – 11:30 AM session in the parish office
January 16 – 11:30 AM session in the parish office
January 23 – 11:30 AM session in the parish office
CCM (Children's Catechetical Ministry)/First Eucharist Preparation:
January 6 – 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM CCM sessions for children
January 13 – 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM Parent session (Speaker Series) in the church
January 27 – 5:30 PM to 6:45 PM Virtual Family Faith Night
February 3 – 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM CCM sessions for children
Confirmation:
January 2 – Holiday Break
January 9 – 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM Candidate session in the Community Building
January 13 – 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM Parent session (Speaker Series) in the church
January 23 – 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM Candidate session in the Community Building
February 6 – 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM Candidate session in the Community Building
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December Baptisms at St. Martin of Tours
Please welcome the following children who were baptized in our parish community during the month of December, 2021:
Jacob Chance Mesina and Justin David Mesina
Children of
Angelito Mesina, Jr. and Charlowe C. Ibarra
Griffin Daniel Mew
Child of Daniel Edward Mew and Stephanie Nichole Ells
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A Closer Look at the Nativity of Jesus….. |
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MAGI
Jesus came to earth out of love for all people, and all people from everywhere on earth are invited to worship him. The Gospels tell us this from the beginning of Jesus’ life. The first to arrive at the manger to see the infant Jesus were the shepherds who were poor outcasts. And then, according to Matthew’s Gospel, wise men from the East arrived, Gentiles who were not even part of Israel.
These wise men, also called Magi, were priestly scholars who studied the universe for signs. In their wisdom, they had discovered a star that would lead them to a newly born king.
Matthew doesn’t tell us how many Magi came to adorn Jesus, and he doesn’t name them. But he does tell us about their three kinds of gifts. The gift of gold reminds us that Jesus is king. The frankincense reminds us of Jesus’ priestly role between human beings and God the Father. Myrrh was used to anoint the bodies of the dead, and so it reminds us of Jesus’ sacrifice on the Cross. An early tradition in the Christian community gave names to the Magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar.
Were they kings? We don’t know, but we think of them that way partly because of an ancient psalm we pray on Epiphany, the feast when we remember them:
“The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands will bring him tribute…All kings will bow before him, and all nations will serve him.” (Psalm 72:10-11).
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January 2, 2022 Epiphany of the Lord
Isaiah 60:1-6 • Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6 • Matthew 2:1-12
They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasure and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. —Matthew 2:11
Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany. Epiphany means “manifestation,” in which Christ is shown to the whole world, as represented by the magi. The magi (sometimes called the Wise Men or the Three kings) were people from another country and religion who followed the star to Bethlehem to worship the baby Jesus as the King of the Jews. This special day reminds us that we also are called to go out and tell the world about Jesus. This can be very hard to do. At those times, we can do what St. Francis suggested: “Preach the Gospel at all times. If necessary, use words.” There are many ways every day we can live out the Gospel, even if we aren’t talking about Jesus. Then people will see that we are Christians by how we love, and other people can come to know him.
Prayer: Dear Lord, please help us to bring you with us into the lives we live outside of church. Please give us the courage to share you with all we meet.
Family Reflection: Who are the people I could share Jesus with, that I do not share him with right now? What are some ways that I can share Jesus with others?
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Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities
Web Link for this week - Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities:
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ST. MARTIN OF TOURS SCHOOL |
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AROUND THE DIOCESE & COMMUNITY |
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Stay up to date with Diocesan wide news, events, and stories as well as news from the USCCB and the Vatican. Read the Bishop’s messages, see what our children are doing in school, and learn about upcoming community events. Follow the Diocese of San Jose on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Vimeo. Social Media Posts: Facebook | Instagram
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