ST MARY STAR OF THE SEA

PARISH

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

FEBRUARY 12, 2017

Mission Statement

We the people of St. Mary Star of the Sea Parish in Ocean City, Maryland,

want to respond to God’s love for us by doing His will, to live the Gospel of

Jesus Christ and to love each other as Jesus loved us. In this way, He can live, as

Risen Lord, in our midst and attract all people to the Father. As part of the Church, we

want to be a “Home and School of Communion” where, through the celebration and

living out the Sacraments, and various ministries, each member can live in unity as a

child of God, building up the Kingdom of God until Jesus will come again in glory.

MASS SCHEDULE

ST. MARY STAR OF THE SEA CHURCH

CLOSED FOR THE WINTER

HOLY SAVIOR CHURCH

SUNDAY AT 7AM, 8:30AM & 10AM

MONDAY – THURSDAY AT 8:30AM

SATURDAY VIGIL AT 5:15PM

CONFESSIONS AT 4:15-5:00PM

BETHANY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

(MEMORIAL DAY—SEPTEMBER)

SATURDAY VIGIL AT 5:00PM

Dear parishioners and friends, Last week the Word of God challenged us to be salt of the earth and light of the world. Jesus is helping out to open our hearts to embrace the whole world and to make our hearts more and more like His. We have explored and meditated on the awesome responsibility that we have in relation to the World, to every people we encounter and with whom we live. We are challenged to make this world brighter and more flavorful. We take another step as we listen to Jesus teaching us about the Life of the Beatitudes, the life of a child of God who is Love. We, as Disciples of Jesus, live in a different way because we are being transformed by God. With faith, we are invited to take a look at our values, whatever shapes our minds and forms our behavior. The Gospel makes us look at the eternal problem of the relationship between freedom and law. We are free; we have the ability to choose good or evil, which makes us, therefore, responsible of the consequences of our choices. On the other hand, we also have precise rules of moral order governing our lives, rules that Christ has made which are quite demanding. The separation between freedom and law is not always clear; the people who were observing Jesus could not understand it either – they thought that he was rejecting God’s law. Jesus explains that He came to fulfill it, not to reject it; it was important for Him to make sure that we understand more clearly what the Law really wants to accomplish in us, and through us.

Jesus calls for greater justice, deeper ethical

behavior, which is not limited to externals only, but it

extends to all components of our behavior, including

the inner and more hidden ones. These shape all our

relationships: between people, with God, with

ourselves.

This week let’s try to pay attention to what moves

us to act. Let’s take a look at our intentions. We

may start all things, whether small or big, with a sim-

ple prayer, by saying “for you, Jesus." I am sure, by

becoming aware of all these things we will be able to

purify our actions and intentions. We will be able to

grow and be able to say “Yes, when we mean Yes

and No, when we mean no.”

We continue together our journey of discovery of the Bi-ble every Thursdays from 6:30 – 8PM. You are welcome to join us anytime and learn how to make the most of our Bible reading. Looking ahead: Feb 20

th: Office closed for President’s Day

Feb 22

nd: Parish Dinner. More info in the bulletin. Make

sure you get your own ticket on time. Feb 26

th: Rite of Sending. We want to keep in our prayers

all those who have started the process of becoming Catho-lic. March 1

st: Ash Wednesday. Masses with Distribution of

ashes at 8:30AM and 6:30PM

March 5th: the group “Sodality of Mary” will sponsor “tea

with Mary.” More information in the bulletin

Readings for the Week of

February 12, 2017

Sunday: Sir 15:15-20/Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34/1 Cor 2:6-10/Mt 5:17-37 or 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37 Monday: Gn 4:1-15, 25/Ps 50:1, 8, 16bc-17, 20-21/Mk 8:11-13 Tuesday: Gn 6:5-8; 7:1-5, 10/Ps 29:1a, 2, 3ac-4, 3b, 9c-10/Mk 8:14-21 Wednesday: Gn 8:6-13, 20-22/Ps 116:12-15, 18-19/Mk 8:22-26 Thursday: Gn 9:1-13/Ps 102:16-21, 29, 22-23/Mk 8:27-33 Friday: Gn 11:1-9/Ps 33:10-15/Mk 8:34--9:1 Saturday: Heb 11:1-7/Ps 145:2-5, 10-11/Mk 9:2-13 Next Sunday: Lv 19:1-2, 17-18/Ps 103:1-4, 8, 10, 12-13/1

A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you. ” (Ezek 36:26)

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

If you would like to join in the fun and laughter and learn to make authentic polish desserts? We will be making Chrusciki,

Babka & Kolache on Saturday, February 18th in preparation of our Polish Dinner on the 22nd. All are welcome to join us that morning and if it is anything like last year, the laughs will keep on rolling.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society also with St. Mary’s Star of the Sea and St. Luke’s would like to thank everyone for their generosity towards the poor box and the food pantry. During the month of December, we were able to assist 72

Adults and 37 Children as well as distributing 92 Bags of Groceries. We are only able to continue to help our neighbors thanks to your ongoing generosity.

LET'S PLAY BINGO Join us on Wednesday, February 22 at 11:30 a.m. for a delicious lunch (Bakes Ziti) followed by 18 games of Bingo!! Bingo is being held at St. Andrew Catholic Center, 14401 Sinepuxent Avenue, Ocean City, MD. Tickets are $25 and may be purchased by calling Pat Luckett at 302-436-0351. Proceeds benefit St. Luke's Church. Contact St. Luke’s 410-250-0300 for more info.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR!! SPRING FEVER DINNER AND DANCE St. Luke's Catholic Parish presents FRANK AND TRISH..."Dancing through the Decades" Join us on February 26 from 2 - 6 pm at St. Andrew's Catholic Center, Ocean City, MD. Tickets are only $25 and may be purchased at the Parish Office. Table reservations will be taken for groups of 6 or 10 only and full payment is due at time of reservation. This is sure to be a sell out so get your tickets NOW! Contact the parish office at 410-250-0300 if you have any questions.

Spaghetti Dinner to Benefit Camp Possibilities

Enriching the lives of children with diabetes

Saturday, March 25, 2017 4:30pm to 8:00pm

St. Peter’s Lutheran Church Community Center

10301 Coastal Highway, Ocean City, MD

$10. for Adults—$5. for Children 12 & under

For tickets contact: Katie @410-251-4793

In addition to Dinner, there will be a Ticket Drop Auction, Raffle & Life Auction.

For more information and a list of Auction Items

Www.SpaghettiForPossibilities.org

Thank you to everyone who has helped to financially support our parish during 2016. We know that some of you will need a letter for taxes showing your donations for

the year. Please contact the parish office either by phone or email and we will get it sent out to you. Thanks again!

Spring is just around the corner and we are

looking for help with the Rosary Garden. If

you would like to lend a hand, please give

the office a call and Bozy will get right back

to you.

St. Mary Star of the Sea SODALITY OF MARY will host a “Marian Tea Party” on Sunday, March 5, 2017 in the parish hall following the 10 am Mass. We will serve assorted teas, tea sandwiches, and a variety of sweets. ALL are welcome and bring a friend!! Parents of religious ed students can enjoy some refreshments

while waiting for your children.

The Sodality of Mary is a community, who, with the Blessed Mother as our model, pray and work together in service to Jesus Christ in every area of life, family, work, and all civic activities. The purpose of the Sodality is to grow in faith and love of God and to transmit this to others. The Sodality is comprised of both male and female. (Note: Saint Pope John Paul II was a member of the Sodality.)

Many of your supporters are shopping

for Valentine's Day gifts, and remind-

ing them to shop at smile.amazon.com

can increase donations for St Mary Star of the Sea. Ama-

zon has a large variety of gifts that are perfect for Valen-

tine's Day including electronics, jewelry, clothing, and more.

Ash Wednesday is March 1, 2017

Mass will be held at Holy Savior

8:30am & 6:30pm

We hope to see you there!!

Sharing the Gospel

God's rules stop you from hurting yourself and the people

around you. God knows that if you really love him, you will

want to follow his rules. You will trust him. You will want to

be thoughtful and kind. You will want to love people the way

God does.

Prayer

God, help me to follow your rules with my whole heart.

Something to Draw

Draw a picture of yourself cheerfully helping your parents

dust and vacuum your house.

Mission for the Week

Ask your parents to list three ways you can honor them.

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9952 x2469 - LPiResourceCenter.com

February 11 Saturday 5:15pm James Dempsey February 12 Sunday 7:00am Parishioners 8:30a.m. Heidi Hayes 10:00a.m. James Dempsey February 13 Monday 8:30a.m. Mary Anzengruber

February 14 Tuesday 8:30a.m. Irene & Charles Hill

February 15 Wednesday 8:30a.m Betty May February 16 Thursday 8:30a.m. Jack Morris

February 17 Friday 9am-12noon Prayer & Adoration February 18 Saturday 5:15pm Parishioners February 19 Sunday 7:00am Richard Ford 8:30a.m. Mary Stevens 10:00a.m. Nicholas Herman

If you would like a Sanctuary Candle lit for the week for a special intention or in memory of a loved one, please contact the parish office. A donation of $10.00 is appreciated. The Candle will be lit in loving memory of Heidi Hayes from Joe Ryan.

If you would like to have flowers placed on the altar in memory of or in special intention of a loved one, please contact the parish of-fice for additional information.

Baptisms are held on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month. Please contact Rita Danhardt 410-289-7038 for additional information.

Low Gluten Hosts are available at all Masses. Please see the Adult Altar Server prior to Mass if you would like to receive one. Thank you

MASS INTENTIONS

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

From the desk of Mark J. Record,

Principal…

ANOTHER GREAT CATHOLIC SCHOOLS WEEK We would like to thank everyone who contributed to the success of our observance of Catholic Schools Week (CSW), 2017. Our celebration of the gift of our Catholic school education included highlights of our lives of faith, knowledge and service. Our students and staff demonstrated their strong school spirit.

CSW Religion Bowl

CSW Pep Rally

CSW Pastries with Parents

MBS Casino Night is February 25, 2017. Please join us for a heartfelt night of fellowship, fun and great food plus live and silent auctions. Make your reservation today online at mostblessedsacramentschool.com.

But I say to you, do not swear at all.

Let your 'Yes' mean 'Yes, 'and your 'No' mean 'No.' Anything more is from the evil one."

I hope everyone had a wonderful week…This week was a busy one! Filled with many blessings!! Our twins turned thirty-one …not sure how that happen but as I am sure with everyone, parenting milestones always make me think back to my parents! So, when I read this weeks Gospel, so I could spend some time reflecting on it through the week, it made me laugh because it was one of my mother’s go to quotes! My mother stood firm on honesty and obedience. She did not care if we liked her or not, we were to be honest is every setting and to obey the adults in charge. As a child I can remember her saying you don’t have to process or agree with be because I listen to Jesus and my yes means yes and my no means no!! It wasn’t until I got older that I realized that that “line” meant much more than my mother’s disciplining tactic! It meant as an adolescent she had my back because she could trust my integrity! If I said yes I meant it…if I promised to do something it got done! If I felt it was wrong I could say no! Those values and skills were Gospel based and planted in us from early childhood. I clearly remember saying to her one time when I was pleading for something…”Please mom….don’t say no, say maybe!” That meant there was room for negotiation! I received very few maybes…my parents were sure of their values and yes meant yes no not meant no! Have a great week… Rita

NOTE A CHANGE OF DATE :We, the members of the T.O.P. Group are excited to announce our next GREAT EVENT!! We are planning a Senior ~ Senior Prom, and would like to invite all our Senior Parishioners to join us on March 11

th for an evening or fun and food!! We will have a

DJ, Dinner and door prizes, dancing and a great time!!! We hope you will mark your calendars!! Tickets will be on sale Starting next weekend Sundays after all Masses and Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 to 3 at the Religious Education Office!

Senior~ Senior Prom

Theme ~ Somewhere over the Rainbow March 11 th ~ 630 PM to 9 PM Tickets are $5.00 Per person!!

Buy early to be assure of a place at the table!!

This weekend after all Masses Religious Article Store ~ Big After Christmas Sale

February 11 and 12 all Christmas items marked down

50% and we have some awesome beeswax

candles….Don’t miss out!!!

THIRTY THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday, Tuesday & Thursday 9am—5pm Wednesday & Friday 9am –3pm 410-289-0652 1705 Philadelphia Avenue Ocean City, MD 21842 Website: Stmarystaroftheseaocmd.com Facebook: Saint Mary Ocean City, MD Parish Pay: Automated Giving 1-866-727-4741 x 4 Parishpay.com

Pastor: Rev. Stanislao Esposito pastor@stmarystaroftheseaocmd.com

Deacons: Rev. Mr. Wil Pinder Rev. Mr. Dave McDowell deacon@stmarystaroftheseaocmd.com

Administrative Assistant: Mrs. Donna Santoni office@stmarystaroftheseaocmd.com

Faith Formation: Mrs. Rita Danhardt Religioused@stmarystaroftheseaocmd.com 410-289-7038

Music Director: Mr. Jordan Pantalone jspantalone1018@gmail.com

Facilities Manager: Mr. Tony Dicken, maintenance@stmarystaroftheseaocmd.com

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME