WELCOME If you are alienated or upset, we welcome you lovingly.

If you are in need of forgiveness, Jesus forgives you completely—with unconditional love.

If you have been hurt by the Church, we are truly sorry.

If you are angry, Jesus offers you peace.

If life has become burdensome, we are here to support you.

We are happy you are here and want you to stay.

We would like to share our lives with you.

Come join us each week so we can worship God together.

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Parish Staff

Rev. Richard T. Conway–Pastor rtconway@comcast.net

Irene Bonner – Business Manager ibonner@comcast.net

Susan Hurton–Faith Formation Director

shurton.srb@gmail.com

Joe Galluzzo – RCIA Coordinator joe.galluzzo@comcast.net; 978-314-3404

Yvonne Gobis – Liturgical Music Coordinator ygobis@comcast.net; 978-452-0831

Karen Bailey – Communications Coordinator kbailey07@comcast.net

Laura Szekely – Funeral Ministry lcszekely@gmail.com

Weekend Mass Schedule

Saturday 4:00 pm

Sunday at 9:00 & 11:00 am

Weekdays as announced

Parish Office

978-683-8922

Fax: 978-689-8878

Office Hours:

Tuesday-Friday

9:30 am to 4:30 pm

(closed from noon-1:00 pm)

Marriage Please contact the Parish Office at least six months in advance. Participation in both a parish and a dioce-

san preparation is required of all couples.

RCIA Adults interested in baptism or joining the Catholic Church should contact Joe Galluzzo at 978-314-3404

or joe.galluzzo@comcast.net.

Anointing & Pastoral Care of the Sick Please contact the Parish Office when a parishioner is seriously ill or goes into the hospital. Staff and

Communion Ministers bring communion to those who are infirm. Sacrament of the Sick is celebrated com-

munally in the spring and the fall.

Baptism Celebrated regularly at Sunday Eucharist. Mandatory parent preparation sessions are held at church eve-

ry other month. Please contact the Parish Office four months prior to the intended Baptism date.

A Stewardship Parish

Building a Catholic community of commitment, passion and love

Celebrating our faith through dynamic liturgy and a rich sacramental life

Welcoming all into the warmth of our parish family

Sharing the gifts God entrusted to us

Striving to learn, live and share our faith

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JANUARY 13, 2019

FROM FATHER RICK

Dear Friends,

Today we conclude our Liturgical Celebration of the Christmas Season with

the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

Each year I list here those who so ably work on the environment of our parish church in order to prepare it for our celebration of the Incarnation.

I also usually start the list by thanking Bill Sullivan for coordinating everyone’s job, but his efforts go way beyond that. I would go so far as to say that much of what I do in the church I couldn’t do with out his help and support. Thank you, Bill.

Those who worked on the church environment: Kate Allard, Tom Ciaccia, Bob Coleman, Sue Cole-man, Tom Cuff, Jan Fay, Steve Fay, Joe Galluzzo, Bob O'Brien, Lynda O'Brien, Frank Paone, Janet Schiavoni, Maureen Stewart, Anne Sullivan, Bill Sullivan, Jean Tornatore, Jim Tornatore, Joe Torna-tore, Dennis Vecchi, Dave Waller, Bill Wolfendale.

As I cut and pasted this list from the email Bill sent me, and erased last years list, I couldn’t help but notice and utter a quick prayer for Everett, who was so much a part of this effort for so many years. May he rest in peace.

FROM POPE FRANCIS

Here is Pope Francis’ Homily from on New Year’s Day He has a great devotion to Our Lady the Untier of Knot

Pope’s New Year’s Advice: Entangled in Life’s Knots, Lift Your Eyes to Mary

Pope Francis gave this New Year’s advice in his homily in St. Peter’s Basilica the morning of the So-lemnity of Mary, Mother of God, on New Year’s Day, which also marked the World Day of Peace.

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SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE PARISH

Recalling in Luke’s Gospel that: “All who heard were amazed at what the shepherds told them,” the Pope stressed that at the conclusion of the Octave of Christmas, as we continue to contemplate the Child born for us, “lacking everything yet abounding in love,” what is asked of us today is to be amazed. “Amazement is what we should feel at the beginning of each year, for life is a gift that con-stantly gives us a chance to make a new start.”

Today, the Pope underscored, is also a day to be amazed by the Mother of God. Reflecting on the Good News of this New Year, Francis said: “God is no distant lord, dwelling in splendid isolation above the heavens, but love incarnate, born like us of a mother, in order to become a brother to each of us.” “He rests on the lap of his mother, who is also our mother, and from there he pours out up-on humanity a new tenderness,” he said. “Thus we come to understand more fully God’s love, which is both paternal and maternal, like that of a mother who never stops believing in her children and never abandons them. God-with-us, Emmanuel, loves us despite our mistakes, our sins, and the way we treat our world.”

God believes in mankind, the Holy Father said, “because its first and preeminent member is his own Mother.” “At the beginning of the year, let us implore from Mary the grace to be amazed at the God of surprises. Let us renew the amazement we felt when faith was first born in us,” he said, re-minding the Mother of God helps us. “She, the Theotókos, who gave birth to the Lord, now pre-sents us, reborn, to the Lord,” the Pope stressed, reminding: “She is a mother who generates in her children the amazement of faith. Without amazement, life becomes dull and routine, and so it is with faith.”

Entangled in Life’s Knots, Lift Our Eyes to Our Lady “Let us allow ourselves to be gazed upon. Especially in times of need, when we are entangled in life’s knots, we rightly lift our eyes to Our Lady. Yet first, we should let ourselves be gazed upon by Our Lady. When she gazes upon us, she does not see sinners but children.”

The Holy Father recalled that many say the eyes are the mirror of the soul, and hence, the eyes of Mary, full of grace, reflect the beauty of God, and show us a reflection of heaven. “The eyes of Our Lady are able to bring light to every dark corner; everywhere they rekindle hope. As she gazes up-on us, she says: “Take heart, dear children; here I am, your Mother!” This maternal gaze, which in-stills confidence and trust, he said, helps us to grow in faith. “Faith is a bond with God that engages the whole person; to be preserved, it needs the Mother of God.”

“A world that looks to the future without a mother’s gaze is shortsighted,” the Pope underscored, reminding: “The human family is built upon mothers. A world in which maternal tenderness is dis-missed as mere sentiment may be rich materially, but poor where the future is concerned.” The Ho-ly Father prayed: “Mother of God, teach us to see life as you do. Turn your gaze upon us, upon our misery, our poverty. Turn to us thine eyes of mercy. Let us allow ourselves to be embraced.”

Mary’s Secret Our Lady, Francis explained, took everything to heart. “She embraced everything, events both good and bad. And she pondered all these things; she brought them before God. This was her secret. In the same way, she now takes to heart the life of each of us: she wants to embrace our every situation and to present it to God.”

In today’s fragmented world, where we risk losing our bearings, a Mother’s embrace is essential.

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How much dispersion and solitude there is all around us! The world is completely connected, yet seems increasingly disjointed. We need to entrust ourselves to our Mother. “Our Lady embraces any number of concrete situations; she is present wherever she is needed.” The Pope encouraged us to allow ourselves to be taken by the hand: ”Mothers take their children by the hand and lovingly introduce them to life,” he said, lamenting: “But how many children today wander off on their own and lose their way.” We need to learn from mothers, he said, that heroism is shown in self-giving, strength in compassion, wisdom in meekness.

God Himself Needed a Mother “God himself needed a Mother: how much more so do we! Jesus himself gave her to us, from the cross: “Behold your mother!” (Jn 19:27). He said this to the beloved disciple and to every disciple. “Our Lady is not an optional accessory: she has to be welcomed into our life,” he said, praying: “Mary, take us by the hand. Clinging to you, we will pass safely through the straits of history.”

Epiphany Proclamation

The proclamation of the date of Easter and the other moveable feasts on Epiphany dates from a time when calendars were not readily available. It was necessary to make known the date of Easter in advance, since many celebrations of the liturgical year depend on its date. The number of Sundays that follow Epiphany, the date of Ash Wednesday, and the number of Sundays that follow Pente-cost are all computed in relation to Easter.

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 cruci-fixion, His burial, and His rising celebrated between the evening of the Eighteenth of April and the evening of the Twentieth of April, Easter Sunday being on the Twenty-first day of April.

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

Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, will occur on the Sixth day of March.

The Ascension of the Lord will be commemorated on Thursday the thirtieth day of May.

Pentecost, joyful conclusion of the season of Easter, will be celebrated on the Ninth day of June.

The Holy Body and Blood of the Lord will be celebrated on Sunday the twenty-third of June.

And, this year the First Sunday of Advent will be on the First day of December.

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 depart-ed.

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.

JANUARY 13, 2019

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In light of the announcement of the important liturgical feasts I list the im-

portant upcoming events of Parish Life.

UPCOMING PARISH DATES OF INTEREST

Please plan on joining us for these events

DAY OF PRAYER FOR THOSE IN CONSECRATED LIFE—February 3, 11:00 am Mass

COMMUNAL ANOINTING OF THE SICK—February 10, 11:00 am Mass

WORLD MARRIAGE DAY (Renewal of Vows)—February 16, 4:00 pm Mass

PARISH WIDE LENTEN PROGRAM “LIVING THE EUCHARIST”—Begins week of March 3rd, “Preparing for the First Week of Lent,”—Sign Up Weekend February 23/24

ASH WEDNESDAY—Wednesday, March 6, Masses at 12:10, pm, 5:45 pm, and 7:15 pm

PARISH LENTEN PENANCE SERVICE—Thursday, April 11, 7:00 pm

SACRED TRIDUUM—April 18-19-20-21

EASTER SUNDAY—April 21, Masses at 9:00 and 11:00 am

CONFIRMATION—May 5, 11:00 am, Mass with Bishop Robert Reed

FIRST COMMUNION—April 28, 11:00 am

ASCENSION THURSDAY—May 30, Masses will be held on Wednesday, May 29 at 6:00 pm (followed by Holy Day Supper) and on Thursday, May 30, at 12:10 pm

PENTECOST—Sunday, June 9, one Mass only at 10:00 am (summer Mass schedule begins), fol-lowed by Parish Pentecost Celebration

MOST HOLY TRINITY/CHOIR APPRECIATION—Sunday, June 16, 10:00 am Mass

CORPUS CHRISTI MASS AND PROCESSION—Sunday, June 23, 10:00 am Mass with 2-mile procession with Eucharist, followed by the first Summer Cookout SECOND SUMMER COOKOUT—Wednesday, July 17, following 6:00 pm Mass

ASSUMPTION OF MARY—Thursday, August 15, Masses will be held at 12:10 pm and 6:00 pm, with our third Summer Cookout following the 6:00 pm Mass

FEAST DAY WEEKEND—September 21/22—Food Truck Festival following 10:00 am Mass I wish you God’s Peace, Fr. Rick

SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE PARISH

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Stewardship Reflection

“John answered them all, ‘I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming…he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit... ’” (Luke 3:16) The Catholic Catechism states that “Jesus’ im-mersion in the water is a sign for all human beings of the need to die to themselves to do God’s will.” In other words, as baptized Catholics there is only one gift that we need to give to Jesus – the gift of ourselves. Surrender yourself to God, place your trust in Him and allow the Holy Spirit to work through you for the greater glory of God.

In Service 2nd Lt. Luke Beaulieu, USA, Lt. William E. Conway, USN, SN Madalina Yvonne Southworth, USN, Cpt. Brian Kee, Cpt. Dan York, SFODA 1324 Detachment, 2nd Lt. Hannah Jean Kuegler, USA, BM2 Stuart Bangs, USCG, Sean Hodgdon, USAF, Cpl Chris Carey, USMC, SFC John B. Nicholas, USA, SGT Jean-Paul Fitzpatrick, USA, SGT Vincent Amasula, USA, CDR Paul Giguere, USN, 1st Lt. Stephen Draheim, USA, Col. James Coffey, USAF, Lyle Shackelford, Pvt. Alexander Sabu, USA, Gen’l. R. Steve Whitcomb, USA, Col. Brian P. Bedell, USA, Capt. Lauren Whitcomb, USA, BG Patrick J. Donahue, USA, BG Brian P. Donahue, USA, Cpt. Michael McGaffigan, USA, Lt. Jesse Salisbury, USA F, Sgt. Maureen Galvin, USA, SpOps, Commander Kevin B. O’Bri-en, USN, Miko Belonia, Maj. Tony Hoffman, USA, Maj. Ross Coffman, USA, Maj. Garth Howe, USA, Chief Warrant Of-ficer II Michael Morris, USA, Captain Matthew Mancini, USA, Sgt. Ellen Barnes O’Connor, USA, Pvt. Adam James Maz-za, USA, Pvt. Joseph D. Gagnon, USM

Prayers requested for

Ralph Jannini, longtime parishioner and

husband of Pauline Jannini

Pattie Lou Murry, longtime parishioner and

wife of the late Herb Murray

Lazarus House Soup Truck Season is Underway!

This is what St. Robert’s has committed to: Sunday, January 13—bag lunches only Sunday, January 20—soup only Sunday, February 10—soup and bag lunches Sunday, March 10—soup and bag lunches

What’s involved? Typically we make 5 gallons of soup and 120 bag lunches, each of which includes a sandwich, a baked treat, and a snack. January details are available here: www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4cabac2fa4fc1 -january. Stay tuned for February!

Questions? Email kbailey07@comcast.net.

Parish Community Prayer Intentions

At our parishioners’ request or with permission, we list those who are sick or in the hospital and

wish to be remembered in our prayers:

The names in the Parish Community Prayer Intention list are not included in the web ver-sion of the bulletin in order to maintain the pri-vacy of those individuals.

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Readings for the week of January 13, 2019

Sunday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 40:1-5, 9-11; Ps 29:1-2, 3-4, 9-10 or Ps 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30; Acts 10:34-38 or Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7; Lk 3:15-16, 21-22 Monday: Heb 1:1-6; Ps 97:1 and 2b, 6 and 7c, 9; Mk 1:14-20 Tuesday: Heb 2:5-12; Ps 8:2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9; Mk 1:21--28 Wednesday: Heb 2:14-18; Ps 105:1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9; Mk 1:29--39 Thursday: Heb 3:7-14; Ps 95:6-7c, 8-9, 10-11; Mk 1:40--45 Friday: Heb 4:1-5, 11; Ps 78:3 and 4bc, 6c-7, 8; Mk 2:1-12 Saturday: Heb 4:12-16; Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 15; Mk 2:13--17 Next Sunday: Is 62:1-5; Ps 96:1-2, 2-3, 7-8, 9-10; 1 Cor 12:4-11; Jn 2:1-11

Wednesday, January 16 Weekday Mass

6:00 pm: Maureen Hughes

Sunday, January 20 Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

9:00 am: Sandra Murphy 11:00 am: Shirley & Everett Belisle; **Baptism of Kai Galluzzo

Saturday, January 19 Vigil, Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

4:00 pm: Joanne Rikeman

Saturday, January 12 Vigil, Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

4:00 pm: Jonathan McHugh; Nikki Halpin; Audrey, Jim, & Jamie Shaughnessy

Sunday, January 13 Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

9:00 am: Mildred Tobyne 11:00 am: Samantha Grace Fedoce

Thursday, January 17 St. Anthony, Abbot

12:10 pm: Stephen Ryan

Friday, January 18 Weekday Mass

12:10 pm: People of the Parish

Question of the Week: Baptism of the Lord

Theme: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”

Breaking Open the Word Suggested text for faith sharing: Today’s Gos-pel

Step One: Listen to the Word As you hear this reading, what words or phrases strike you? What in this reading touch-es your heart? What lingers in your memory?

Step Two: Look into Your Life Question for Children: What are some things you can do to please God?

Question for Youth: “With you I am well pleased.” What are you doing right now that is pleasing to God? How does it feel to live that way?

Question for Adults: Name a time when you felt your actions were pleasing to God.

Advent Giving Thank You

“On behalf of Catholic Charities Merrimack Valley, we wish to thank the parishioners at St. Robert Bel-larmine for their generous donation of Christmas gifts. You blessed so many families with your kind-ness and compassion this holiday season.”

JANUARY 13, 2019

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Italian Dinner Saturday, January 26

Driscoll Hall, 5:30 pm

Your free will offering will support Boston

seminarians

RSVP to the Parish Office by January 24

978-683-8922, ibonner@comcast.net

Presented by the St. Robert’s Parish Council of the Knights of Columbus

Grab family, friends, and neighbors and join us for an Italian feast!

Spaghetti with sauce, ziti with butter, meatballs, Italian

sausage in cacciatore sauce, garlic bread, salad, dessert,

and maybe a surprise or two...

What do we need every month? We supply food to feed 150 people a nutritious, hot meal of tacos and sal-ad. That’s a lot of food and every donation—no matter how small—helps! Here’s what we need:

• Cooked ground beef (50+ pounds)

• Tortillas (20 packages of 8-inch (medium) size)

• Shredded cheese (30 pounds)

• Salsa (6 large jugs or equivalent)

• Taco seasoning (25-30 packets)

• Lettuce (16 heads)

• Cucumbers (15)

• Tomatoes (48 medium/large)

It’s easy to get involved—just drop off food donations when you come to Mass next weekend. Non-perishables can be left in the bin in the vestibule of the church. Perishable items are collected in the Driscoll Hall kitchen on Sunday morning—before the 9:00 am Mass and again between 10:00 and 11:00 am. Questions? Away next weekend but still want to con-tribute? For more information or to arrange an alternate drop off time, contact Marian & David Magnan at marma-gnan@gmail.com or 978-683-8969, or Lisa Lattari at lisa.lattari@gmail.com or 978-749-3736. Thank you for your continuing generosity!

Next Weekend, January 19/20, is a Bread & Roses Weekend!

We are responsible for meal preparation for the Bread & Roses Hospitality House in Lawrence once per month all year.

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FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

SCRIPTURE READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK:

SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah 62:1-5

For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be quiet, until her vindication

shines forth like the dawn and her victory like a burning torch.

Nations shall behold your vindication, and all the kings your glory; you shall be called by a new

name pronounced by the mouth of the LORD. You shall be a glorious crown in the hand of the

LORD, a royal diadem held by your God. No more shall people call you “Forsaken,” or your land

“Desolate,” but you shall be called “My Delight,” and your land “Espoused.” For the LORD delights

in you and makes your land his spouse. As a young man marries a virgin, your Builder shall marry

you; and as a bridegroom rejoices in his bride so shall your God rejoice in you.

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians 12:4-11

Brothers and sisters: There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different

forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all

of them in everyone. To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit. To

one is given through the Spirit the expression of wisdom; to another, the expression of knowledge

according to the same Spirit; to another, faith by the same Spirit; to another, gifts of healing by the

one Spirit; to another, mighty deeds; to another, prophecy; to another, discernment of spirits; to an-

other, varieties of tongues; to another, interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit produc-

es all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.

+ A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 2:1-11

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples

were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They

have no wine.” And Jesus said to her, “Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not

yet come.” His mother said to the servers, “Do whatever he tells you.” Now there were six stone wa-

ter jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. Jesus told them,

“Fill the jars with water.” So they filled them to the brim. Then he told them, “Draw some out now

and take it to the headwaiter.” So they took it. And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had

become wine, without knowing where it came from (although the servers who had drawn the water

knew), the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him, “Everyone serves good wine first, and

then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one; but you have kept the good wine until now.”

Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disci-

ples began to believe in him.

Copyright 1970, 1986, 1992, 1998, 2001 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc. Washington D.C. All rights reserved. No part of

this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, record-

ing, or by an information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.