MASS SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK MONDAY January 30 7:00 AM James Heinzer (Herk Hynes)

1:15 PM Catholic Schools Mass-VC TUESDAY January 31, St. John Bosco

7:00 AM Helen Strickenberger (Bob & Freda Schwabenbauer) WEDNESDAY February 1 7:00 AM Edward F. Szabat Sr. (Ed & Sally Szabat) THURSDAY February 2, The Presentation of the Lord 7:00 AM Jo Wnuk (Tom & Norm Dolak) FRIDAY February 3, St. Blaise 7:00 AM Helen Perrett (Edward Czulewicz)

SATURDAY February 4 7:00 AM For Members of Our Parish Community

5:30 PM (Vigil) Marianne Kleck (Family) SUNDAY February 5, 5th Ordinary Sunday 7:30 AM Kate Newman (Bob & Chris Shattenberg) 9:00 AM Chuck Stephenson (Wife) 10:00 AM (St. Venantius) Helen Ann Cavanaugh

(Dan & Barb Stack) 11:30 AM Bill Blauser (Tim & Bonnie McDonald

THIS WEEKS CALENDAR OF EVENTS SUNDAY January 29

Catholic School’s Week 4:00 p.m. Tureen Dinner – St. Venantius TUESDAY January 31 7:00 p.m. RCIA – Social Center FRIDAY February 3 7:30-9 a.m. Adoration – Chapel

First Friday Communion Calls Throughout the Morning

SATURDAY February 4 4:00 p.m. Confessions - Church

SAINT STEPHEN CHURCH

OIL CITY, PENNSYLVANIA JANUARY 29, 2017

READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF JAN. 30-FEB. 5

MON: ...................................................... Heb 11:32-40/Mk 5:1-20 TUES: ........................................................ Heb 12:1-4/Mk 5:21-43 WED:........................................................... Heb 12:4-15/Mk 6:1-6 THURS: ...................................................... Mal 3:1-4/Heb 2:14-18 FRI: ........................................................... Heb 13:1-8/Mk 6:14-29 SAT: ...................................................... Heb 13:15-21/Mk 6:30-34

SUN: ......................................... Ia 58:7-10/1 Cor 2:1-5/Mt 5:13-16

FAMILY PERSPECTIVE: It is in our family where we learn to be merciful and peaceful and comforting to others. The Beatitudes of the Kingdom of God begin at home and depend on you. Parents lead the way.

DEALING WITH INFERTILITY? Resources about infertility that support couples and are faithful to Catholic teaching are available at www.eriercd.org/infertility.htm. Those struggling with

infertility may find some helpful information.

NOVA is a one-day marriage preparation program for couples free to remarry in the Catholic Church. Topics include adjustments, blending families, legal issues and others. Contact the Family Life Office at 814-824-1261 or by email at: familylife@erieRCD.org to register. Offered only four times per year, the next NOVA is scheduled for Saturday, March 4th in Erie. Couples preparing for convalidation are encouraged to apply.

A CASINO BUS TRIP: A trip is planned to Seneca Allegany Casino on Thursday, March 9th, 2017. All proceeds benefit Saint Patrick and Saint Stephen Schools. The bus departs Franklin at 8:00 a.m. from St. Patrick Church Parking lot and departs Oil City at 8:30 a.m. from Oil City Knights of Columbus. Depart casino: 5:00 p.m. Cost is $30.00 with a bonus given at casino of $25.00 slot play as well as $5.00 food - Need photo ID. Payment will confirm seat. Please contact Jan Bowen at 432-7658 for further information and to sign up. Thank you for your continued support of Catholic Education.

SERVERS FOR – February 4-5

5:30 Sarah/Jacob Teeter 7:30 Hunter Lancaster/Parker Slagle

9:00 Daniel/Matthew McQuaide 11:30 Sadie/Ryan Kalamajka

LECTORS FOR – February 4-5

5:30 Mark Heim 7:30 Mike Horos 9:00 Dan Wheeler

11:30 Cindy Eckert EUCHARIST MINISTERS FOR – February 4-5

5:30 Ellen Flickner, Deb Lutz, Mike Morrison, Karen Shepard, Richard Stewart

7:30 Dan Karg/Loretta Warcholik 9:00 Bob/Rosalie Bablak, Dave Heinzer, Dawn Salata,

Mary Vinopal 11:30 Mary Chapman, Donna Goodman, Sandra Kerchner,

Bill/Elaine Klapec

THE PEOPLE IN OUR PARISH:

SINCERE SYMPATHY is offered to the family and friends of Sister Maureen Tobin. May she and all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. PLEASE REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS those who are sick, in nursing homes or hospitalized as well as those who serve us in the military. WELCOME Chelsae Mae and Everrett Cody Harry, children of Dustin and Anna (Huber) Harry who were baptized at St. Venantius January 22nd and to Sydney Grace Gustafson, son of Matthew and Kaleigh (Moore) Gustafson who was baptized at St. Stephen’s January 22nd.

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK

We would like to thank BARR’S

INSURANCE, 257 Seneca St., for sponsoring an ad weekly in our bulletin.

A DONATION TO THE 2ND CENTURY FUND was made for

Helen Smith by Irene Achey; William & Donna Bickel. FOR: Ida R. Schell Fu Tyan & Fumei Lin; by Kay Dawson; Carolyn Judy’s

Card Club Friends. A DONATION to the School was made for Stan Kukla by Terri & Mike Cirincione. FOR Joan Bower Gonzalez & William

Gonzalez by Ann (Whitehill) & Scott Collentro and by Amy Whitehill.

SERVANTS OF ST. STEPHEN: For Prayer Requests, please call Mary Firster at 676-1219. Thanks to those who continue to pray for those in need of your prayers.

CATHOLIC SERVICE APPEAL (CSA): Commitment weekend for our annual stewardship drive will begin soon. Hopefully everyone will take time to reflect upon helping us reach our goal. We are grateful to those who continue to make payments on our 2016 campaign.

Points to ponder from Fr. Matt

We celebrate Catholic Schools Week. The education of your children isn’t limited to the walls of St. Stephen

School. Understanding and practicing the Faith begins and ends at home. Parents and guardians have an awesome task. All of us have to give good example to the children of all ages. The world’s values easily usurp

their minds and hearts.

Let’s pray this week for the children, the families, the

administrators, the teachers and staff of St. Stephen and Venango Catholic Schools.

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I am so happy to hear that a number of you have already contacted your new pastor, Fr. John Miller. I’m so

pleased that you live out the reality that you the parishioners are the church. God bless you for it.

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

ST. VENANTIUS will have a pot luck dinner TODAY, Sunday, January 29th at 4 p.m. in the church basement. Those attending are asked to bring your own table service and a well filled tureen.

FIRST FRIDAY is this week. Join us for Mass in the Reed St. Chapel at 7 a.m. followed by Adoration until 9 a.m. Father Matt and Eucharistic Ministers will visit and take Communion to the homebound throughout the

morning. Please call the rectory at 677-3020 by Wednesday if you know someone not on the list that needs visited.

RCIA will meet Tuesday (31st) at 7 p.m. in the Social Center.

SWEET SUNDAY: All are invited to join others in praying the rosary at 8:30 a.m. next Sunday (Feb.5th) prior to the 9 a.m. Mass. The Rosary Society will sponsor refreshments following the Mass in the Social Center. All are welcome to come share in refreshments and fellowship! Reminder we DO NOT HAVE Sweet Sunday during Lent (March and April).

A FAREWELL RECEPTION: We invite you to a light reception in the Social Center for Fr. Matt

Sunday, February 12th from 12:45-2 p.m. All are welcome to attend. He begins his new assignment February 13th.

SCOUT SUNDAY is next Sunday, February 5th at 9 a.m. Mass. We welcome the Cub Scout and Boy Scout Troops as they recognize the scouts, leaders and the scouting program. Scouts should be in the social center at 8:45 a.m.

THE FEAST OF ST. BLAISE is Friday, February 3rd. We will be blessing throats at all Masses next weekend, February 4th-5th.

THE NEXT BAPTISMAL CLASS in our area will be NEXT Saturday, February 4 at 10 a.m. in the Staff Room of Dion Auditorium. This class is for parents planning a Baptism in the next few

months. We ask all first time parents and sponsors (if possible), to attend as well as those who have not attended in the last 3 years (as a refresher). No need to wait until the child is born. Please call St. Patrick’s to pre-register at 437-8263.

MASS SCHEDULE: We appreciate your patience in not being able to schedule Masses as we wait see what Mass times will be determined by our new Pastor. We are also awaiting any changes to Mass times before preparing a new Ministry schedule. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

Learn New Tips on Bible Study/Faith Sharing Programs: Plan to come Tuesday, February 7 either from 10:30 a.m. to noon or from 6:30-8 p.m. at Our Lady Help of Christian Social Center, 508 Colbert Ave. Sr. Nancy Fischer, SSJ, will be a guest speaker for all parishioners interested in learning new skills in sharing faith. Bible Studies and/or leading small groups. Lent is coming! Faith sharing and/or Bible studies can be enriching and helpful as you prepare for his holy season and beyond. Sisters Tina and Marian will accompany Sister Nancy and they will be announcing an upcoming Bible Study and want to hear your suggestions for the future.

ST. STEPHEN SCHOOL NEWS

We begin Catholic Schools week at the 9 a.m. Mass this weekend. We appreciate our students and their families who participate in the Mass and are grateful for their presence. Share the enthusiasm as we focus on different aspects of Catholic Education. They will join Catholic schools throughout the United States in celebration of Catholic Schools Week, January 29—February 4, 2017. Special activities, religious services and community events will highlight the uniqueness of our Catholic schools. The St. Stephen School community thanks the parishioners of this parish for your prayers and continued support of Catholic education in our area by helping to make it available to all who seek it. We are grateful for your generosity in sharing your time, talent, and treasure on behalf of our school community. We ask that you continue to pray for our Catholic schools that we may remain faithful to our mission by encouraging Faith, Knowledge, and Service in our students. Monday: Celebrating Our School Communities ~ Students will travel to VC and join VC and St. Patrick students for a day of games, relays, a program at 11:15 a.m. and Mass. All families are invited to attend Mass at 1:15 p.m. in VC’s gym. Tuesday: Celebrating our Families ~ Magician/comedian Jed Dougherty will present a program in the gym at 10 a.m. Guests are welcome. Students invite a “guest for lunch” today. Students will

make Valentine cards with their Guardian Angels that will be distributed to area nursing homes. Wednesday: Celebrating Service ~ Presentations by Sr. Tina and Sr. Marian on vocations and mission trips. Teachers and staff will enjoy a special luncheon. Students will play games and a Rescue Bird Exhibit by Joel Marrone at 1:30 p.m. in the gym. Thursday: Celebrating Our Students – “Crazy Day” – students can wear crazy hats, socks, ties or SSS appropriate crazy shirt and pants. A dance session will take place at 1:30 p.m. in the gym. Friday: Celebrating Our Spirit – Students can dress in their favorite team colors to celebrate “Soup-er” Bowl Day. Students are

asked to bring a can of soup to donate to St. Elizabeth Center. They will enjoy a movie in the afternoon. SSS Lottery tickets are currently on sale for February and March. The cost of the ticket is $10. You can contact a school family or the office during normal business hours to purchase.

VCHS NEWS

All are invited to The VC Heritage Gala Saturday, March 4th at 6 p.m. from 6-11 p.m. at Cross Creek Resort. Come celebrate 55 years of Venango Catholic Heritage! There will be dinner, a “live

and Silent Auction”, open bar and dancing. Rooms are available at

Cross Creek for a rate of $65. Call Cross Creek for more information at 827-9611. Cost of the tickets are $50 each or $375 for a table of 8.

CRAFTERS/VENDORS/GARDEN CENTERS NEEDED!! Our Vendor, and Garden Show will be held Saturday, April 29th at St. Mary Social Hall in Crown, PA. With Mother’s Day and Spring

just around the corner, this is a great opportunity to offer unique gifts, flowers, and/or plants to your customers. Lunch will be available for purchase. There will also be a Chinese Auction, Bake Sale, Used Book Sale, and 50/50. Please visit St. Mary/St. Ann website at stmarycrown.com under the events page to download an application and more information or you can also send an email to: smwolbert@yahoo.com or text/call 814-229-3083. Hope to see you there!

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