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“The Sacraments are a privileged way in which nature is taken up by God to become a means of mediating supernatural life. Through our worship of God,we are invited to embrace the world on a different plane.

Water, oil, fire, and colors are taken up in all their symbolic power and incorporated into our act of praise. The hand that blesses is an instrument of God’s love and a reflection of the closeness of Jesus Christ, who came to accompany us on the journey of life. Water is poured over the body of a child in Baptism is a sign of new life.

Encountering God does not mean fleeing from the world or turning our back on nature… For Christians all the creatures of the material universe find their true meaning in the incarnate Word, for the Son of God has incorporated in his person part of the material world, planting in it a seed of definitive transformation.”

On Monday, January 16, 2017 our nation will commemorate the birthday of Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr.

Masses will be celebrated at 8:00 and 11:00 AM, 4:30 and 5:30 PM.

There will be no confessions, and the church offices and Adult Education Center will be closed for the day.

The San Damiano Hall will be open in the evening where we are hosting “Hope in a Time of Anxiety” at 6:30 PM.  The Hall will open at 6:15.

The friars and staff at the Church of St. Francis of Assisi offer our sincerest condolences to Patti Ann and Conor McDonald on the death of NYPD Officer Steven McDonald.

Steven’s life was very much connected to us. Fr. Mychal Judge ministered to Steven in the days and months following the shooting incident in Central Park in 1989 that left Officer McDonald paralyzed for the rest of life.

Steven came to St. Francis often for prayer or to attend Mass. He also came here for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the Friars and staff were always moved by his courage, humility and compassion for others.

“Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will.” This is the refrain for today’s Responsorial Psalm. This refrain is a good prayer for each of us as we begin our new day. We don’t know completely what may happen during any day, but our concern is always to do what will be pleasing to the Lord and what will witness to the faith that is in our hearts. Some days it may be more difficult than others to say this, but with the Lord’s guidance and support, we will be able to do even what may be challenging.

I want to bring to your attention the program that will be presented Monday evening, January 16th. Our observance of Martin Luther King’s birthday is this day and in the spirit of Rev. King, we will present an evening “Hope in a Time of Anxiety.” We recognize that there is much tension and division and even hostility in our country. Our faith tradition has much to offer us as we move forward into 2017. There will be several parts of the evening: a short presentation, a time for listening, and a time for pray. Our Provincial, Fr. Kevin Mullen, O.F.M., will be the moderator for the evening. Dr. Martin Luther King has much to teach us and so it is fitting that this evening is held on a day dedicated to him.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.

Almost every year at Christmastime, you can find a newspaper article or TV documentary about the star of Bethlehem. Astronomers give various theories about whether the magi saw a new star, perhaps a supernova, or a comet, or a conjunction of two or more planets. Since the magi are generally believed to be astrologers, the conjunction seems most likely.

More important is the meaning of the star. In Matthew’s Gospel, light is used as a symbol of the good news of Jesus coming into the world. Jesus is the light of the world, so the magi follow that light to get to Jesus. That’s why verse 9 of the Gospel has the image of the star preceding the wise men and stopping over the house where Jesus was. By following the star, they become followers of Christ. So what do the magi show us about following Jesus?

First, they take the initiative. They saw the star, figured out what it meant, and made their journey. As followers of Jesus, we can look for what needs to be done (in our family, parish, or community) and do it. We don’t have to wait for the pastor to call us and beg for help.

Second, they expressed their faith in Jesus by the gifts they brought: gold – a gift for a king, who is worthy to be followed; frankincense – Jesus is worthy to be worshiped as Son of God; and myrrh – Jesus becomes king by dying for us all. We can express our faith in many ways. We can volunteer to help the poor, the elderly, or the disabled. We can teach our children how to pray and tell them about all that God has done for us.

Third, they were not afraid to take risks for Jesus. When theywent back home without telling  Herod where they found the child, Herod was furious (Matthew 2:16). For all they knew, he couldhave come after them. How often do we take risks for the Lord, byopenly speaking about our faith or giving God credit for the goodthat we do? Let the star of Bethlehem remind us that Jesus is thestar of our lives. Tom Schmidt

As Catholics, we believe in the human dignity of all immigrants and refugees. With more than 65 million people displaced from their homes, we are currently witnessing the worst refugee crisis since World War II.

During National Migration Week, we celebrate the contributions of refugees and immigrants in our churches, communities, and in our country. We ask all people of goodwill to support humane reforms that affirm the dignity of all migrants; and to recognize the contributions of immigrants and refugees in your community.

A Blessed and Happy Epiphany!

“Rise up in splendor, Jerusalem! Your light has come, the glory of the Lord shines upon you!” Thus, the prophet Isaiah proclaims in the first reading for the Solemnity of the Epiphany. Jesus is manifested as the light for all people as the Magi come to adore the Infant and offer him gifts. For many people, this is the day when gifts are exchanged in families. This day continues to affirm that Jesus is God’s greatest gift to us. Let us accept this gift with gratitude and be thankful for what God has done for us.

Tomorrow, Monday, January 9, we celebrate the Baptism of the Lord and this concludes the Christmas season. Hopefully, this Christmas season has strengthened your faith.

I am happy to announce that St. Francis Church’s 2017 Pilgrimage will be November 1 to 11 and will celebrate the 100th Anniversary of the Apparitions in Fatima. We will be visiting Fatima in Portugal and Coimbra, Santiago de Compostela, Salamanca, Avila, Madrid in Spain, ending in Lourdes, France. The cost of the pilgrimage is $2,749 which includes round trip flight from NewYork, $700 in government taxes and airline surcharges, hotel accommodations (doubles), most meals, sightseeing, admission fees and $100,000 flight insurance. Brochures are available by email:[email protected] and at the reception desk. A deposit of$400 and a copy of a valid passport are required to reserve a place. Single rooms are available at an additional fee. Last November, we had a full bus for the pilgrimage, so don’t wait too long to sign up.

-Fr. Andrew Reitz, O.F.M.