February 16, 2020 (View this bulletin on-line at www.StJoanofarcfl.com) Page 1

ST. JOAN OF ARC ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH 13485 Spring Hill Drive • Spring Hill • Florida • 34609

Telephone: 352-688-0663

Notes from your Pastor

What The Church Teaches: Annulments It All Begins with Marriage The Catholic Church teaches that the union of a man and a woman in matrimony is a sacred act. When marriage takes place between two baptized Christians, it is called a sacrament. If neither, or only one person, is baptized it is not a sacramental marriage. However, it is recognized as a sacred bond. The Catholic Church considers marriage sacramental when a valid covenant freely expresses informed consent. This occurs when there is no constraint and it is unimpeded by natural or ecclesiastical (Church) law. Marriage is a Sacrament The Sacrament of Matrimony is a perpetual and exclusive bond between a baptized man and woman. This happens when the husband and wife are strengthened and consecrated for their marital duties. God established this bond of a sacramental marriage in a special way, that once consummated, can only be dissolved by God through the death of one party. In Mark 10:9, Jesus states, “What therefore God has joined together, let not man put asunder.” Misconceptions in the Catholic Church regarding Divorce and Annulments: 1. Some people think that once a person is divorced, then they are excommunicated. This

is not true. Divorced people are always welcomed in the Church. 2. Some people think that once an annulment takes place that the children become

illegitimate. Again, this is false. Children are not illegitimate simply because their parents get a divorce.

3. Only rich people can get annulments. In the Diocese of St. Petersburg anyone can get an annulment. The annulment process is free; no one has to pay anything.

4. Some people think that the Catholic Church does not recognize Protestant marriages because they are outside the Church. The Catholic Church does recognize Protestant marriages. If, however, a Catholic chooses to marry in a Protestant Church, that person must get permission from the Catholic Church to get married outside the Church.

5. Some people think that your former spouse has to agree before you can get an annulment. This is not true. A person does not need permission from a former spouse to seek an annulment.

6. Some people think that a marriage with children cannot be annulled. Again this is false. If there are children from the marriage, one can still seek an annulment and the children will remain legitimate.

Adapted by Our Sunday Visitor

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Aunque nos hayamos aprendido los mandamientos de memoria cuando estábamos en la escuela el salmista dice que lo más importante es cumplirlos a cabalidad. Esto significa ir más allá de lo que está escrito en la ley y asimilar lo que se nos aconseja. El corazón está considerado como la sede de las emociones humanas, especialmente del amor; así nos lo recordó la celebración del Día de san Valentín el viernes pasado. Tal como nos dirá Jesús más tarde en el Evangelio de Mateo, toda la ley y los profetas se originan en los dos grandes mandamientos: amarás al Señor, tu Dios, con todo tu corazón y amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo. San Pablo nos dice que tenemos una gran ventaja por encima de los que vivieron antes que él, pues tenemos al Espíritu como guía. La cita que él usa es de Isaías y, aunque todavía pudiera ser verdad que “ni el ojo lo ha visto, ni el oído lo ha escuchado”, lo cierto es que lo sabemos por revelación del Espíritu Santo (1 corintios 2, 9, cita de Isaías 64, 3). El Espíritu nos puede guiar a seguir los caminos del Señor, aunque no lo veamos ni escuchemos. Jesús hace una alocución al quinto mandamiento cuando le enseña a sus discípulos lo peligroso que es el enojo. Si éste se deja inconcluso puede causar resentimiento y que se acabe una relación. Jesús insiste en que hagamos de la reconciliación con alguien una prioridad mayor, aún mayor que nuestra relación con Dios. “Ve primero a reconciliarte con tu hermano (o hermana), y vuelve luego a presentar tu ofrenda” (Mateo 5, 24). Pregunta de la semana ¿Con quién necesito reconciliarme? ¿Cómo puede el Espíritu Santo guiarme para hacer lo correcto?

L'chaim ! Choices... What to do?… How to love?… How to relate?… How to live?… The choices we make every day are not random by any means and they count. They affect our lives and the lives of others. We each have a choice to follow the commandments or not... to have a close relationship with our God or not. These choices and the actions, which affirm our choices, are our deci-sions which when taken on balance becomes the ulti-mate choice of life or death… Our choice… Our decision. God has given us our free will to make our choices, and the society, in which we live should reflect the values we place on these choices and how we live. Few would argue that the greatest gift of all is the gift of life, especially eternal life. Life is a God-given gift, so precious that He sent His only Son into the world so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but have eternal life. The Center for Disease Control has reported that since the year 1970, just under 50 million babies were aborted in this country and this is thought to be underreported. Life is precious. All human life is precious because we are all made in the image and likeness of our Creator. The old, the young and everyone in between were given life by God and we should be very, very, very, hesitant to shorten it here on earth without His permission, for it is not ours to take, but ours to celebrate, even in our struggles. It would not be a stretch to say that 50 million souls are waiting for us to witness to God’s gift of life and wondering what choices we will make, individually and as a society. Those who stood and participated in the recent March for Life in Washington, D.C. and those who continue to stand up for the unborn throughout the world should be supported in this struggle. More than words are needed though. The Scribes and the Pharisees knew the law and practiced it meticulously, but lost the spirit of the law and did not see beyond it. They did not understand that the commandments were meant to give us instruction on how to begin a relationship with the Creator and that Jesus taught us that to grow in relationship to the Father, we need to love God and love our neighbor, which requires more than words. Many would agree that we give to those we love, but perhaps Jesus would not agree. Perhaps Jesus would agree more with, Give love to those to whom you give, especially of ourselves... and who are we to love? Perhaps the unborn should be part of that. L'chaim !

Notes from Deacon Fred Notitas del Diácono José

To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under Heaven.

- Ecclesiastes 3:1

“… a time to die …” Please pray for the deceased of our parish, who

recently passed away. Especially for: Winifred Buonocore

February 16, 2020 (View this bulletin on-line at www.StJoanofarcfl.com) Page 3

CHOICE “If you choose you can keep the commandments,” Sirach tells us. God “has set before you fire and water; to whichever you choose, stretch forth your hand” (Sirach 15:15, 16). This is a great mystery: God does not control us so completely that we cannot choose our own path. We have certain boundaries, of course, but no one but we can choose our way within those boundaries. In today’s reading from Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us of our freedom and our responsibility for our lives. He calls us to look beyond the words of the commandments, all the way to their meaning. Look beyond the adultery to the selfishness that poisons our love. Look beyond the murder to the anger that eats away at our compassion. Look beyond the perjured testimony to the lies and deception that drive our behavior. Our vocation is to choose life for ourselves, and to choose a path through our part of the world that helps make life possible and more abundant for others as well. TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — God allows us to make choices, but we are not to choose injustice or sinfulness (Sirach 15:15-20). Psalm — Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord! (Psalm 119). Second Reading — God’s wisdom is mysterious and hidden (1 Corinthians 2:6-10). Gospel — Jesus has come not to abolish but to ful-fill the law and the prophets (Matthew 5:17-37 [20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37]). READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Jas 1:1-11; Ps 119:67-68, 71-72, 75-76; Mk 8:11-13 Tuesday: Jas 1:12-18; Ps 94:12-13a; 14-15, 18-19; Mk 8:14-21 Wednesday: Jas 1:19-27; Ps 15:2-4ab, 5; Mk 8:22-26 Thursday: Jas 2:1-9; Ps 34:2-7; Mk 8:27-33 Friday: Jas 2:14-24, 26; Ps 112:1-6; Mk 8:34 — 9:1 Saturday: 1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23:1-3a, 4-6; Mt 16:13-19 Sunday: Lv 19:1-2, 17-18; Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12- 13; 1 Cor 3:16-23; Mt 5:38-48

SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Monday: The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order; Presidents’ Day Friday: St. Peter Damian Saturday: The Chair of St. Peter the Apostle; Washington’s Birthday THE CHAIR OF ST. PETER THE APOSTLE February 22 In brushing up for “Catholic Jeopardy,” it might help to know that there is only one feast on the calendar for a thing, rather than a person or mystery. It’s for a chair: Saint Peter’s chair in fact After the Resurrection, there can be no doubt that the disciples reserved a special place for Simon Peter in the upper room. Later, Peter became the bishop of Antioch in today’s Syria, the place where we were first called Christians. From there, he went to Rome, the center of the Empire, where it is said that Peter sat in a chair in the house of Priscilla and Aquila to instruct his flock. Jesus, in entrusting the keys of the Kingdom to Peter and his successors, entrusted his compassion and mercy to them, and charged them with pointing to the Kingdom of God. Compassion and mercy are to resonate through their teaching. Since the ancient sign of a teacher is the chair (“disciple” literally means one who sits at the feet of a teacher), Peter’s chair has long been treasured. Today there is a symbolic shrine of Peter’s chair above the main altar of St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. This monument is the last work of Bernini, a huge bronze throne supported by four doctors of the Church: Augustine and Ambrose from the Western Church, and Chrysostom and Athanasius from the East. High above it is the alabaster window of the descent of the Holy Spirit. —Rev. James Field BAD COMPANY People who live solely for themselves are eventually corrupted by their own company. —Anonymous CONSCIENCE Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire, called conscience. —George Washington

What eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and what has not entered the human heart,

what God has prepared for those who love him, this God has revealed to us through the Spirit.

— 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

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SATURDAY • February 15 9:00 a.m. For the Ill and Deceased members of

our Families 4:00 p.m. Joe Cofone (D) req by Daniel and Joanne Zamorski ——————————————————–—— SUNDAY • February 16 7:30 a.m. For Our Parish Community 9:00 a.m. Isabelle Campo (D) req by Michelle and Dennis 11:00 a.m. Christopher Carrasquillo (D) req by Theresa Echavarría 1:00 p.m. Maria Ramona Ferrera (D) req by Ramón Luna Ferrera —————————————————–——–—

MONDAY • February 17 9:00 a.m. Charles Waggoner (D) req by Mary Jo Waggoner —————————————————–——– TUESDAY • February 18 9:00 a.m. Clinton and Margie Waggoner (D) req by Mary Jo Waggoner ——————————————————–—-—

WEDNESDAY • February 19 9:00 a.m. Gail Moon (D) req by Alan Howes ———————————————————–— THURSDAY • February 20 9:00 a.m. For Unwed Mothers ——————————————————–——- FRIDAY • February 21 9:00 a.m. Louis Fiorentino (D) req by Columbiettes ——————————————————–—— SATURDAY • February 22 9:00 a.m. For Disabled Veterans 4:00 p.m. For the Soul of Winifred A. Keefe (D) req by her loving Husband, Bob ——————————————————–—— SUNDAY • February 23 7:30 a.m. For Our Parish Community 9:00 a.m. Salvatore Giovenco (D) req by Family 11:00 a.m. Miguel Bogalhas 10th anniversary (D) req by Loving Family 1:00 p.m. Por las mamás no casadas

You cannot out-do the generosity of God. Stewardship Report for December Jan 19, 2020

Attendance: 857

Envelopes : $5354.00 Offertory Cash $1675.78 2nd Collection $ 416.00 Total: $7445.78 Debt Reduction: $1234.00

Fátima, Lourdes & Shrines of Spain (Portugal, Spain and France)

Take your FAITH ON A JOURNEY, to Fátima, Lourdes & Shrines of Spain (Portugal, Spain and France) with Father Stanley Jawa on this 12 night

experience. August 31st, 2020 - September 12th, 2020

Your included destinations while on this Journey: LISBON-SANTARÉM- FÁTIMA-BRAGA–

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, SPAIN, BURGOS–SAN IGNACIO DE LOYOLA–LOURDES, FRANCE, CARCASSONNE–MONTSERRAT - BARCELONA,

SPAIN Plus, Mass and Rosary will be offered throughout your journey. Land prices begin at $1679 per person, based

on double occupancy. Deposits of only $400 per person will reserve your space. Space is VERY LIMITED. For

further info or to register, contact Luke or Eileen at 860-399-1785

Eileen@CatholicCruisesandTours.com.

Our SJOA Travel Club newest journeys to the Catholic Cruises and Tours family are:

Catholic Ireland, Footsteps of St. John Paul II & St. Faustina, Mexico - Our Lady of Guadalupe,

Medjugorje Pilgrimage Canada - Montreal & Quebec,

and of course our regular journeys that we offer are: Journey through the Holy Land, Journey through the

Holy Land with Jordan, Catholic Italy with Papal Audience, Fatima, Lourdes and Shrines of Spain,

Lourdes Pilgrimage, Camino Way: A Journey for the Soul,

Marian Shrines of Europe We hope to see you on one of our JOURNEYS in 2020

God Bless and Happy Travels!!!!

February 16, 2020 (View this bulletin on-line at www.StJoanofarcfl.com) Page 5

Pastoral Team Rev. Patrick Rebel, Pastor

Assisting Priests: Rev. Edward Reiter, Rev. Michael Kouts Rev. Dennis Kaelin, Msgr. Joe Sobiesiak Deacons: Deacon Fred LaPiana, Deacon José Cruz Deacon Mike Ruffner

Parish Business Manager: Anne Cofone Faith Formation & Youth Ministry: 352-686-7864

Director of Faith Formation: Mary Jo Waggoner StJoanRelEd@gmail.com

Director of Youth Ministry: Nancy Lovelock SJOA-Youth@Tampabay.rr.com

Director of Music: Joyce Thorpe SJOAorganist@gmail.com

OFFICE EMAIL: jchrchca@tampabay.rr.com

Website: www.StJoanofArcfl.com

Spiritual Emergencies Only: 352-666-3156

Parish Office Hours: Monday - Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Friday: 9:00 a.m. - Noon Closed daily 12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m. Office Phone: 352-688-0663

Ministers of the Eucharist: Please notify the Parish Office if you, or someone you know, is sick, in the hospital, homebound or shut-in.

Eucharistic Liturgies Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 pm (Spanish) Weekdays: Monday - Saturday at 9:00 a.m.

Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturday: 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. & by appointment

Baptism for Children: Please call the Parish Office.

Matrimony: If you are contemplating marriage at St. Joan of Arc Church, please be mindful that there is a six month prior notice request required.

RCIA/RCIC: Rite of Initiation into the Catholic faith.

“In His Footsteps” Soup & Sandwich Lunch: Served in our Parish Family Hall on the 2nd Thursday of each month from Noon - 2:00 p.m. and for our home-bound only on the 4th Thursday of each month.

Mary & Martha’s Gift Shop: Wednesday: 9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. Saturday: 3:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Sunday: 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Closed during all Masses and the month of August.

St. Vincent de Paul Society: 352-556-3670

Notre Dame Catholic School: Phone: 352-683-0755 Website: www.ndcsfl.org

Sacristans Workshops Two Half-day Workshops Available

The Office of Worship will be offering two (2) one half-day workshops for sacristans in February and March. These workshops are open to new and experienced sacristans who prepare the weekday and weekend liturgies for their parishes. To register online, please click on the preferred date and location listed below: Saturday, February 22 at Holy Family Parish in St. Petersburg Saturday, March 7 at St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Parish in Spring Hill. For more information check the Office of Worship homepage. DOSP.org

Hurting from Abortion?

Project Rachel offers Post Abortion Healing for women and men impacted by abortion by

helping them to move toward reconciliation with their self,

their unborn child, family, faith, and God in a confidential,

nonjudgmental, caring, and hopeful setting.

Post Abortion Healing Schedules for 2020:

March 20 - 22 Rachel’s Vineyard Weekend Retreat April 11 A Son’s Journey 10-hour Retreat for Men August 15 Raphael’s Way 10-hour Day Retreat September 18 - 20 Spanish Rachel’s Vineyard Weekend Retreat December 11-13 Rachel’s Vineyard Weekend Retreat

Don’t carry the heavy burden any longer, call Project Rachel 813-924-4173 for more information or visit projectrachel@ccdosp.org www.rachelsvineyard.org

ASH WEDNESDAY IS COMING SOON! Next week begin the season of Lent. We will celebrate Ash Wednesday Masses at: • 9:00 am and 7:00 pm as well as • 5:45 pm for families with children, especially for

our parents, children and catechists of our Faith Formation Program.

Please plan on attending an Ash Wednesday Mass that begins the Season of Lent, a most important time of the year of Alms-giving, Penance and Prayer.

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To all women of our parish. You are invited by our Council of Catholic

Women to a retreat given by our parishioner, Magda Robles, on Saturday, February 29th from

9:00 am-3:00 pm. It will be held in our Parish Hall and will begin with our 9am Mass. It

includes a light breakfast and lunch. The fee is only $10. We will be taking names and money after all Masses in January and February. If you have any questions please call Marbeth DiTrani

at 352-688-3258.

The Mission of St. Joan of Arc Parish is to put Jesus first in our lives by seeking to know Him in Scripture, Encountering Him in Prayer, Celebrating His Presence among us in praise and worship and

uniting with one another in loving service.

Come join the ladies of the CCW for a fun day of games and fellowship. Thursday, February 20th. In our Parish Hall. Doors open 11 am and lunch is at noon. Cost per person in only $15. Tickets are available after all Masses. There are raffles, door prizes and game prizes. Our fundraisers help us to donate to our church and community. For more information, please call Rosalie Montemagno at 352-200-6481.

Thank you to our Council of Catholic Women for their very generous $1,000 donation to go towards our APA. They presented the check to Fr. Pat.

Monthly Presentations to begin in February!! Do you have questions about the Catholic Liturgical Calendar? Save the Date! Come and learn about our Liturgical Calendar as Fr. Pat teaches all of the seasons, why we have the colors change throughout the year, what they mean and why does Easter’s date always change? Come February 27th at 6:30 for this, the first of many monthly presentations, by our Pastor and our Deacons. Call our Mary Jo Waggoner, (our Faith Formation Director) at 352-686-7864 if you have a topic you would like presented.

MARRIED COUPLES Starting to look forward to Lent and wondering what to give up? Give up thinking “you need to give up!” Look forward to gifts that God wants you to renew in your Sacrament of Matrimony and experience a Rebirth of the JOY and Romance of your Married Love! Attend a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend and experience an even greater closeness and depth of your love for each other! Register for a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend today! For information call the Application Couple at (813) 270-7832 or go on-line at http://wwme-floridawestcoast.com. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend in this area is Feb. 28-Mar. 1, 2020 at the Hampton Inn in Oldsmar. Space IS limited, so please, apply early!

The St Joan of Arc Conference of the Society of St Vincent de Paul ended its fiscal year on September 30, 2019. With your prayers and financial support, as well as our volunteers working together, we were able to help many of our neighbors who were in need. We paid for rent and mortgages, electric and water bill, bedding and other furniture, car repairs, medical bill and medicines, food, and other items. We accomplished this by making over 160 in-home visits to those who asked for our help. Over 450 people benefited from our ministry. We also have a prison ministry that helps the ladies in the Hernando County jail. 360 visits were made to the jail attending to the spiritual needs of the ladies. We also provided personal hygiene items to many of the m. To accomplish all of this, our Vincentians put in a total of 3780 hours of service and drove over 8000 miles. We spent almost $61,000 dollars to help the needy within our Parish. As you can see St Vincent de Paul is a vital ministry that has a huge impact on people’s lives. We are answering the call of Jesus to feed and clothe His people. We need your continued support. Your prayers and donations will allow us to help people in the future. We also need your time and talents. If you would like to help others, and follow in a special way the call of Jesus, come join us. We meet in the library after the 9:00 am Mass on the second Monday of each month. Our next meeting is March 9th. You can also tell the church office of your interest and someone will contact you.