The Baptism of the Lord - January 10, 2021 |
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Dear Brothers and Sisters at St. Martin of Tours Parish,
My name is Robert, and I am a first year theologian at Mundelein Seminary. I send joyful greetings and prayerful blessings to you as we celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord this week. As you might know, the Office of Vocations in the Diocese of San Jose has begun a new initiative where different parishes “adopt” and pray for a specific seminarian and in kind, the seminarian prays for that specific community. Brothers and sisters, I am humbled to pray with you through this program. St. Martin of Tours is my home parish in San Jose. I have met many of you over these past few years, but in case we have yet to meet, let me introduce myself through my words. It’s nice to meet you and before I say anything else, God loves you. I look forward to us getting to know each other as we move forward on our Christian journey.
About me, I’m originally from the greater Los Angeles area. I have three older sisters, two nephews, and two nieces. I’m a godfather to two of them. I moved to the Bay Area to attend college at UC Berkeley where I earned my bachelors in Bioengineering and then I stayed for work. I used to work in Pharmaceuticals and Dermatology as a manufacturing engineer and as a project coordinator. I also helped with Youth and Young Adult Ministry in the diocese as a praise and worship leader and discipleship mentor. My favorite food is anything my mom cooks and some hobbies I enjoy are photography, music, and reading. As I mentioned before, my home parish is St. Martin of Tours and lastly, my confirmation saint is Saint Anthony of Padua.
I’ve been fortunate to have many deep encounters with God, but the one I want to share with you now is about a night I spent in adoration. I consider it the night when my love for God was rekindled and where my vocation to the priesthood was re-cultivated. It was at a time after I graduated college and I was working, but my faith wasn’t as strong. A good friend of mine asked me to go with her to adoration. That evening, I remember sitting in a pew in the back of the church. The only light I recall was the one shining on the monstrance atop the altar. I remember sitting in the dark and then lifting up my eyes to catch a glance at the way the light illuminated our Lord in the Most Blessed Sacrament. It was as if I had locked eyes with the love of my life from across the room. I just gazed at our Lord in adoration and I believe my Lord looked upon me with affection and love.
I believe in the real presence of our Lord in the Eucharist and so I invite you to participate in adoration when you get the chance. It was in the presence of the Sacrament that I fostered my vocation. I made use of Saint Alphonsus’ devotional prayers to the Blessed Sacrament which, over time, helped me deepen my love for God. I pray that each one of you will have a personal, intimate, and loving relationship with our God. My hope is that by becoming a priest, God-willing, I’ll be able to help you cultivate such a relationship with Jesus.
In Fall 2020, the bishop formally accepted me as a candidate for priesthood. In the letter requesting candidacy, I wrote that I was freely motivated to pursue this vocation for the glory of God, for the desire to serve the People of God, and for the salvation of my own soul. As I continue to pray and reflect with these words after a year of pandemic, social tension, and economic stress, I recognize how the People of God are persevering. 2020 was a challenging year, and some have struggled more than others and continue to struggle, but Christ reminds me that we endure this together as the Body of Christ. As brothers and sisters in Christ, I’m journeying with you in whatever life has brought you, both blessings and burdens. Let us support and edify each other through prayer.
Continued prayers as we continue on.
Godspeed,
Robert Lamorena
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Dear Parishioners,
Robert Lamorena is a seminarian for the Diocese of San Jose from St. Martin of Tours. He is currently in his first year of Theology at Mundelein Seminary. He can be reached at 1000 E. Maple Ave., Mundelein, IL. 60060.
Fr. Saju
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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).
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MASS SIGN-UP
(Click Button Below)
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LIVE-STREAM
(Click Buttons Below)
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HOLY HOUR
Join us via Zoom for Holy Hour
THURSDAY, JANUARY 7
7:00 PM
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BISHOP CANTÚ'S CALL TO DAY OF PRAYER
ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 8
Statement by Bishop Cantú on the Violence at the U.S. Capitol
“I call all parishioners of the Diocese of San Jose to join me in prayer for our country. Yesterday’s attack on the U.S. Capitol Building in D.C. was shocking and appalling. I invite all the faithful of San Jose to join me in a Day of Prayer on Friday, January 8th that we may offer prayers and sacrifice for peace, reconciliation, and healing in our nation.”
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January 9 - January 15
Saturday 5:00pm - Sal Lipari †
Sunday 8:30am - James & Vincee Viso †
Chauncey Russo †
Sunday 10:00am - Cathy Sheridan †
Sunday 11:30am - Carl Rossi †
Monday 8:00am - Right to Life
Tuesday 8:00am - Rosemarie Abiog Doctor †
Wednesday 8:00am - Estela Echivarre †
Thursday 8:00am - Antoinette Lipari †
Friday 10:00am - Diane Borella
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PRAYER REQUEST FOR THE DECEASED:
Noel Fisico, Ric Tomlinson, Aisling O'Sullivan, Fr. William Leininger, Gregory Olmeda, Jr., Isabel Costanza
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PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE SICK:
Isaias Tovar, John de Marco, Alice de Marco, John Nichols, Romalia Amezquita, Ismael Amezquita, Betsy Doyle, Alan Guinto, Kathy Tobin, Rosalia Russo, Helena Knapen
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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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FAITH FORMATION & SPIRITUALITY |
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FAMILY REFLECTION AND ACTION |
January 10, 2021 Baptism of the Lord
Isaiah 55: 1-11 • 1 John 5: 1-9 • Mark 1:7-11
“…a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.” —Mark 1:11
Jesus’ Baptism is the acceptance and the beginning of his mission on this earth. He allowed himself to be numbered among sinners to save us from our sins. Jesus submitted himself entirely to his Father’s will. As his followers, we should reflect on whether we are following the will of God in all that we do. At the end of our life, we hope to hear the same words that were said by the Father to Jesus: “in You I am well pleased”.
Prayer: Dear Lord, show me what you would like me to do to complete the mission you have for me. Help me to be obedient and loving in all things.
Reflection: Is there a particular commandment that you find most difficult to obey? Remember, these are God’s laws given to us for guidance.
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CHILDREN'S SUNDAY BULLETIN & ACTIVITIES
Web Link for this week - Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities:
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PEACE & SOCIAL JUSTICE
The Peace and Justice Ministry on Empowering Women in the Church and throughout the World
Christian Mystics
Though the Feast of the Epiphany is just passed, perhaps we can include the three wise men as early mystics. From the gospels we know they had special sight: they saw the star and followed it and they did not return to Herod and report what they had seen and experienced.
According to Father Richard McBrien’s, Catholicism, mysticism is “the graced transformation of consciousness that follows upon a direct or immediate experience of the presence of God leading to deeper union with God.” This union with God as seen in the lives of Francis of Assisi, Catherine of Siena, and Catherine of Genoa. It inspired them into greater service of others. During the next few months, we plan to feature several female Christian mystics whose experiences of God changed them, and often changed the Church. More than ever today, we need spiritual models and prayer partners to quicken our hearts to even greater love and service.
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STEWARDSHIP & DEVELOPMENT |
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ADA 2021
Kick Off Weekend:
January 23-24
Our parish goal is $135,253
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THANK YOU
Amend Family, Areias Family, Doyle Family, LaVelle Family, Moore Family, Peters Family, Rhodes Family, Velasco Family and Wheeler Family for helping to provide new car seats to the Guadalupe Hope Society's (GHS) Women's Center, for moms to bring their babies home from the hospital. Your kindness is a true blessing!
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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!
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PLEASE SUPPORT OUR PARISH AND MINISTRIES
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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 10th, is for
St. Martin of Tours School.
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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!!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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POPE DEDICATES 2021 AS YEAR OF ST JOSEPH |
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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.”
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UPDATE ON THE 40TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE DIOCESE
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The Jubilee Opening Mass is rescheduled for Saturday, January 30, 2021 at 11:00 am at Our Lady of Peace Parish in Santa Clara.
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NEXT JUBILEE EVENTS
- Mar 19, 2021: Anniversary Mass, 7:00 pm, at Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph
- May 01, 2021: Feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, 11:00 am (details TBA)
- Aug 11, 2021: Feast of Saint Clare, 7:00 pm (details TBA)
- Nov 21, 2021: Closing Mass (details TBA).
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GRIEF BOOT CAMP 2021
Monday evenings 7 PM - 8 PM
beginning January 11 - February 15
Come one week or every week
Sponsored by San Jose Catholic Cemeteries
Facilitator: Candee Lucas, After Care Coordinator
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HEALTH & SAFETY INFORMATION |
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Website : http://stmartintourschurch.org |
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