Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Church Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church Diocese of Crookston

601 15th Avenue North Phone (218) 233-4780 Moorhead, MN 56560 Web https://stfrancismhd.org Hours M – F 8:30 a.m. – 12 noon Email info@stfrancismhd.org 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Facebook https://fb.me/stfrancismhd

“Seek the Lord in All that You Do!” ────────────────────────────────────────────────────

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD Epifanía del Señor

January 3, 2021

“And behold, the star that they had seen

at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was.”

(Matthew 2:9)

STAFF Rev. Raúl Pérez-Cobo, Pastor fatherraul@gmail.com Sr. Lucy Pérez-Calixto, Guadalupe Minister srlucy@stfrancismhd.org Dennis Ouderkirk, Administrative Secretary dennis@stfrancismhd.org Devan Hirning, Coordinator of Religious Education devan@stfrancismhd.org Luke VanOverbeke, Coordinator of Liturgy and Music luke@stfrancismhd.org Swede Stelzer, Parish Management Coordinator swede@stfrancismhd.org Anthony Schefter, Bulletin/Web/Sign Editor anthony@stfrancismhd.org Dean Bloch and Lucila Amezcua, Custodians Bob Seigel and Kim Bloch, Trustees Mr. Andrew Hilliker, St. Joseph’s School Principal ahilliker@stjoesmhdschool.com Phone (218) 233-0553

PASTORAL COUNCIL Brian Geffre Bob Hawk Danielle Holmes Sharon Jorschumb Shari Lee Sr. Lucy Pérez-Calixto Irma Santos Kelli Simonson Traci Steffen Francisco Valenzuela

FINANCE COUNCIL Kim Bloch – Trustee Ann Henne Carol Nygaard Bob Seigel – Trustee

VICTIM ASSISTANCE If you or someone you know has been the victim of sexual misconduct on the part of a priest, deacon, or individual representing the Diocese of Crook-ston, its parishes, or its schools, your first call should be to law enforcement. In addition, the diocesan Victim Assist-ance Coordinator is available at (218) 281-7895 (24-hour confidential number).

THIS WEEK

Saturday 2nd SS. BASIL THE GREAT AND GREGORY NAZIANZEN, BISHOPS AND DOCTORS OF THE CHURCH 5 pm, Mass for the Epiphany – Ann Swenson

Sunday 3rd THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD 8 am, Mass (G’town) – Pro Populo 10 am, Mass – Christian Mothers 12 noon, Mass (Spanish) – Jose Luis Galvis †

Monday 4th ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON, RELIGIOUS NO MASS

Tuesday 5th ST. JOHN NEUMANN, BISHOP NO MASS 7 pm, KC Meeting

Wednesday 6th ST. ANDRÉ BESSETTE, RELIGIOUS NO MASS 6:30 pm, R.E.

Thursday 7th ST. RAYMOND OF PENYAFORT, RELIGIOUS BROTHER NO MASS

Friday 8th NO MASS

Saturday 9th 5 pm, Mass for the Baptism of the Lord – Gordon Kringler †

Sunday 10th THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD 8 am, Mass (G’town) – Aaron Lee † 10 am, Mass – Elias Hoffart † 12 noon, Mass (Spanish) – Pro Populo

RITES OF PASSAGE BAPTISM ~ We welcome those newly baptized. Please pray for them as they continue to grow in Christ. Parishioners seeking baptism for their child should contact Luke VanOverbeke in the parish office at (218) 233-4780.

MARRIAGES & BANNS ~ Please join us in praying for all newly married couples & those preparing for the sacrament of Matrimony. Registered members of the parish are to make arrangements for the wedding at least 6 months in advance.

DEATHS ~ Please remember those who are grieving the loss of a loved one in your prayers.

Barry Carlson – December 20 Richard Cossette – December 12

PRAY FOR OUR PARISHIONERS WHO ARE ILL ~ Please join us in praying for all our sick parishioners. If you are ill and would like to be prayed for by our parish family, or if you are hospitalized or homebound and would like a visit, please call the parish office. Michael Anderson Stefan Arey Nikolai Carlson Gregory Coulter Michael Daugherty Jim Drysdale James Erickson Marge Erickson Andrew Fridgen Julie Fridgen Kathy Harrington Daniel Hendricks Judy Kuzel Tony Lee Mary Lewis Jane McGough Ann Mertes Lynden Mohler Al Morris Tom Perez Maralee Pinkney Betty Richards Jim Schreiner Kris Shelladay Kathleen Steinmann Bob Strnad Charles Wendlick

For all parishioners suffering from COVID-19 and their families.

Blankets are available for you to pass along to those whom you know need prayers.

Names to this list are added at the request of the individual or by family on behalf of the individual. The name remains on the list unless and until we are contacted and told to take it off.

NEW PARISHIONERS ~ We welcome everyone to come and worship with our faith community. Contact the parish office or visit https://stfrancismhd.org to register. If you are not Catholic, please call the office to learn about RCIA. Welcome to our parish family.

MINISTRY SCHEDULE SATURDAY, JAN. 9, 5 PM

Ushers Ben Erickson, Bob Seigel Temps Don Vos Elizabeth Quiggle Lector Kelly Kukowski EMHC Margie Young

SUNDAY, JAN. 10, 10 AM Ushers Dale and Mary Rood Temps Bob and Sandy Hawk Lector Danielle Holmes EMHC Steve Cahill

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE Contributions received the week of December 26-27 (Week #27)

Envelopes (22) $ 1,790.00 Youth/Children (1) $ 15.00 Loose Collection $ 108.00 Total $ 1,913.00 Christmas (29) $ 1,990.00 December Total $ 20,490.10 Monthly Budget Goal $ 30,466.00 % of Monthly Budget Goal 67.3% Guadalupe Ministry $ 366.00

“The Magi are filled with awe by what

they see; Heaven on Earth and Earth in

Heaven; Man in God and God in Man; they see enclosed in a tiny body the One whom

the entire world cannot contain.” (St. Peter Chrysologus)

Check the website at https://stfrancismhd.org for a

special Christmas video message from the staff of St.

Francis de Sales.

PARISH NEWS

Remembering Our Neighbors this Holiday Season Please be mindful this holiday season: if you are attending social gatherings, think about your neighbors’ health and consider staying home from Mass. The Bishop’s Sunday dispensation remains in effect, and you can always watch a livestream of Mass at St. Francis on our Facebook page, https://fb.me/stfrancismhd.org. We all need to help take care of each other during these trying times.

Library Volunteer Needed The parish is again looking for someone who can volunteer a few hours a month to help organize the parish library. Hours are flexible. If you can help, please call Dennis in the parish office.

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January 22: Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of the Unborn

Saint Francis de Sales will mark this day, the anniversary of the infamous Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion, with an 8 am Mass followed by a Rosary. Please plan to attend if you can.

KNIGHTLY NEWS The Knights of Columbus strive to follow the example of Blessed Michael McGivney, to not only to do something but to be someone; to be Catholics who love God above all things and our neighbors as

ourselves, and to build up the kingdom of God for the good of all. The Knights of Columbus are always accepting new members! Every Knight

brings a particular set of skills and a heart that is ready to serve our priests and our parishes. The Moorhead Knights of Columbus are inviting you to take this exciting step today! Ask any Knight or call Grand Knight Vernon Senger at (701) 793-8880. Online membership is now available for new knights! Apply online at: https://www.kofc.org/secure/en/join/join-the-knights.html

No Singing during Mass Please continue to be mindful that congregational singing is not permitted per the bishop’s most recent memo on guidelines for in-person masses. Only the musician(s) are allowed to sing. Thank you, we know this is hard to do.

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From St. Vincent de Paul Today we celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, where the Magi find the newborn king and offer him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. In the spirit of the Magi, please give your gift to St. Vincent de Paul so that comfort and peace can once again be given to a newborn child.

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Mental Health Crisis Response Call Lakes & Prairies if you or some-one you know is at risk of harming self or others, expressing thoughts of suicide, experiencing severe stress that results in a significant decline in daily and/or family functioning, or you just don’t know what else to do! Free help is available over the phone or in person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 1-800-223-4512.

ÚÚÚÚWinterÚÚÚÚ ÚÚWeather PolicyÚÚ In the event of a blizzard warning in Fargo-Moorhead, or when St. Joseph’s School is cancelled, the parish office will be closed and all activities cancelled, including daily morning and weekend Mass. If a “no travel advisory” is in effect parishioners should stay home. Daily Mass as well as the 5 pm Saturday, 10 am Sunday, and 12 noon Spanish Mass will be livestreamed as usual on our Facebook page.

Cancellations will be decided on a case-by-case basis in the event of less severe weather (such as a winter storm warning). In all cases of severe weather, closings and cancellations will be advertised on local TV and radio stations KVLY, KFGO, and WDAY, and on the parish website, https://stfrancis mhd.org.

January 3, 2021 Epiphany of the Lord

“..they fell down and worshipped him. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh...” - Matthew 2:11 Notice the order of events in the Magi’s visit. First, they knelt before Jesus and prayed to Him. Then they presented Him with their gifts. We, too, must take time to pray before we present our gifts to the Lord. We never know what God may be asking us to share!

A PRAYER FOR PUTTING ON A FACE MASK “Heavenly Father, as I prepare to go into the world, help me to see the sacramental nature of wearing this cloth. Let it be a tangible and visible way of living love for my neighbors, as I love myself.

Christ Jesus, since my lips will be covered, uncover my heart, that people would see my smiles in the crinkles around my eyes. Since my voice may be muffled, help me to speak clearly, not only with my words, but with my actions.

Holy Spirit, as the elastic touches my ears, remind me to listen carefully and caringly to all those I meet. May this simple piece of cloth be shield and banner, and may each breath that it holds, be filled with your love. In your Name and in that love, I pray. Amen.”

Envelope No. (if known) ______________________________

To all members of Christian Mothers at St. Francis: As you know, monthly prayers are usually recited/offered on the first Sunday of each month. We will be celebrating Mass but Christian Mothers will not meet. Here is the prayer we say when we gather. All members are invited to prayerfully recite it now.

O good God, we thank You, that You have given us children, made them heirs of heaven by holy baptism, and entrusted their training to us. Fill us with a sense of our responsibility; assist us in the care of their health, but especially in the preservation of their innocence and purity of heart.

Grant that we may teach them early to know and serve You, and to love You with their whole heart. May You, in Your generosity, see fit to grant at least one of our children the grace of a vocation in religion.

Grant that we, ourselves may carefully avoid all that we must forbid them, and may faithfully practice all that we should teach them. Help us to further at home by example, the work of the priests, religious and lay teachers in church and in school.

Grant us the spirit of sacrifice to study with our children. Never allow us to grow soft nor to make life too easy for our sons and daughters. Help us to teach them the eternal value of self-discipline.

We commend them, O God, to Your paternal care, to the motherly protection of the Virgin Mary, and to the guardianship of Your holy angels. Bless our efforts, O heavenly Father, and let our children advance in wisdom and age and grace before You and men. Amen.

EPIPHANY HOME CELEBRATION This ceremony of the blessing of the home and inscription of the initials of the three Magi above each door can be performed either by a priest or the father of the family. You will need holy water and chalk, ideally blessed by a priest. This is from the book The Twelve Days of Christmas by Elsa Chaney.

Prayer:

On entering the home,

Leader (Priest, if present, or father of the family): Peace be to this house. All: And to all who dwell herein.

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

All Pray: The Magnificat (see next page). During the Magnificat, the room is sprinkled with holy water. After this is completed,

All: From the east came the Magi to Bethlehem to adore the Lord; and opening their treasures they offered precious gifts: gold for the great King, incense for the true God, and myrrh in symbol of His burial.

Leader: Our Father. . . And lead us not into temptation

All: But deliver us from evil. Leader: All they from Saba shall come All: Bringing gold and frankincense. Leader: O Lord, hear my prayer. All: And let my cry come to You.

Leader: Let us pray. O God, who by the guidance of a star didst on this day manifest Thine only-begotten Son to the Gentiles, mercifully grant that we who know Thee by faith may also attain the vision of Thy glorious majesty. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

Leader: Be enlightened, be enlightened, O Jerusalem, for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon thee—Jesus Christ born of the Virgin Mary.

All: And the Gentiles shall walk in thy light and kings in the splendor of thy rising, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon thee.

Leader: Let us pray. Bless, + O Lord God almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness and mercy, the fulfillment of Thy law, the thanksgiving to God the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. And may this blessing remain upon this home and upon all who dwell herein. Through Christ our Lord.

All: Amen.

After the prayers of the blessing are recited, each room of the home is sprinkled with holy water. The initials of the Magi are inscribed on or above the doors with the blessed chalk. (The initials, C, M, B, can also be interpreted as the Latin phrase "Christus mansionem benedicat" which means "Christ bless this house".)

Example: 20 + C + M + B + 21 (The 20 and 21 signify the year, 2021)

The Magnificat The Prayer Of Mary

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior

for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed:

the Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

He has shown the strength of his arm, he has scattered the proud in their conceit.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly.

He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel for he remembered his promise of mercy,

the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever.

(Lk 1: 46-55)

Epiphany Proclamation 2021 While a day like Christmas is fixed in our minds and on the calendars on December 25th, many of the important feasts of the Church year move, based upon the date that Easter is set. Easter changes each year moving to the Sunday after the "Paschal Full Moon," and can fall between March 22 and April 25.

In ancient times before calendars were common, most people did not know the dates for the upcoming Liturgical year. On Epiphany Sunday, the upcoming dates were "proclaimed" after the gospel in this way:

Dear brothers and sisters, the glory of the Lord has shone upon us, and shall ever be manifest among us, until the day of his return.

Through the rhythms of times and seasons let us celebrate the mysteries of salvation.

Let us recall the year's culmination, the Easter Triduum of the Lord: his last supper, his crucifixion, his burial, and his rising celebrated between the evening of the First of April and the evening of the Third of April, Easter Sunday being on the Fourth day of April.

Each Easter -- as on each Sunday -- the Holy Church makes present the great and saving deed by which Christ has for ever conquered sin and death. From Easter are reckoned all the days we keep holy.

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, will occur on the Seventeenth day of February.

The Ascension of the Lord will be commemorated on Sunday, the Sixteenth day of May.

Pentecost, joyful conclusion of the season of Easter, will be celebrated on the Twenty-third day of May.

And, this year the First Sunday of Advent will be on the Twenty-eighth day of November, 2021.

Likewise the pilgrim Church proclaims the passover of Christ in the feasts of the holy Mother of God, in the feasts of the Apostles and Saints, and in the commemoration of the faithful departed.

To Jesus Christ, who was, who is, and who is to come, Lord of time and history, be endless praise, for ever and ever. Amen.

Source: Creighton University Online Ministries