Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the
heavenly Father, and have told us that who-ever sees you sees Him. Show us your face
and we will be saved. Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being
enslaved by money; the adulteress and Mag-dalene from seeking happiness only in creat-
ed things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Par-adise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:
“If you knew the gift of God!”
You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by forgiveness and mercy: let the
Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in
ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and forgiven by God.
Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anoint-ing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may
bring good news to the poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.
We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live and reign with the Fa-
ther and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever. Amen.
All Ministers- Save the Date Please save Wednesday evening, February 3rd, Hospitality at 6:30pm reflection 7:00- 9pm for the All Minister Lenten Reflection. You will soon re-ceive a communiqué from Fr. Chris with more de-tails regarding this evening.
A Jubilee Year of Mercy Pilgrimage to Poland & the Czech Republic
Including: Warsaw, Czestochowa, Krakow, Wadowice, Auschwitz, Brno & Prague
13 Days: October 5th to 17th, 2016 Under the Spiritual Direction of:
Most Rev. Patrick J. McGrath & Rev. Christopher Bennett
For more information Email: [email protected] or pick up a flyer in the Parish office or the back of the church
Altar Server Training Boys and girls currently in 5th, 6th, or 7th grades who are interested in learning more about the minis-try of Altar Serving are invited to attend one of two orientation meetings, with a parent, to help them to discern this ministry. At the orientation we will an-swer your questions about training, scheduling, and the practical aspects of serving our parish as an Al-tar Server. To reserve your reservation for the upcoming training session, you MUST RSVP to [email protected]. Prospective Altar Servers will be taken on a first-come-first-served basis.
Orientation Meeting Dates Tuesday, January 26th, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in the church -
or- Thursday, January 28th, from 7:00 to 8:00 PM in the church
This Orientation is a prerequisite for Altar Server Training, and prospective Servers must attend 1 Ori-entation Meeting with a parent. Prospective Altar Servers must also complete the following 3-day training session:
Training Session Dates Thursday, February 4th from 3:30 to 5:30 PM in the church Friday, February 5th from 3:30 to 5:30 PM in the church
-and- Saturday, February 6th from 7:45 to 9:45 AM in the church
10th Annual REVS vs SEMS Basketball Challenge February 19, 7pm - 8pm
Santa Clara University Leavey Center Submitted 1/19/16 by Cecilia Kohlrust
Watch your favorite priests and seminarians battle it out on the basketball court at the Leavey Center! Buy tickets online or at the door: $10 General, $5 Student, $40 Fami-ly. Visit www.dsj.org/basketball for more information, fly-ers, and to purchase tickets. Knights of Columbus will be selling tickets out side of Mass February 6th and 7th.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS (408) 264-8764
Religious Education Office Hours: Office hours- Mon.–Thurs. Closed Fridays
8:30-a.m.-Noon and 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 23 4:30 Yvonne Pine, Jean Downing, John Pasco, Lorraine Igoe, Salvacion Lomotan, Charles Colburn
SUNDAY, JANUARY 24 6:30 Yvonne Pine, Helen Boshell, Andrew & Maryann Ghiggeri 8:00 Yvonne Pine, Michael Giammona, Ray Humecke & Narog Family, Madeline D’Innocenti, Patrica Dinapoli 9:30 Yvonne Pine, Fadi Zikoor, Fred Pope, Herta Catherine Markvardsen 11:00 Yvonne Pine, Martha & Mario Stefanini, Margarette Rucklos, Benny & Julia Infantino 12:30 Yvonne Pine, Edward Buelna, Angelo DeStefano 6:00 Yvonne Pine, Pete DeVincenz, Joe Dunlap
RCIA Adult Confirmation
7:15-9pm at 2278 Booksin in the Marian Room with Deacon Bruce
Confirmation Our next session for confirmation will be on Thurs-day, January 28th in (Science Lab) from 7 until 8:30 pm. Students are asked to bring their workbooks to each session. Please contact Chris Miller at [email protected] or 408-395-7949 for addi-tional information.
Youth Group The next youth group sessions will be this Sunday, January 24th from 7-8:30pm in Walsh Hall. See www.saintchris.com for additional information, in-cluding the full schedule for the year.
Youth Ministry News: Chris Miller (408)-395-7949
[email protected] or parish website www.saintchris.com—Select youth link
Women’s Bible Study Come and Join our reflections as we read the Book of Isaiah. Thursdays 7-9 pm in the Marian Room January through Lent.
If you left a picture of your loved one in the church during the month of November for All Souls, you can pick it up in the parish of-fice, during office hours. Mon—Friday, 8:30am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm.
JUNIOR HIGH REL: The next J r . Hi. meet-ing is Jan. 24th from 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m. in Walsh Hall. LITURGY OF WORD FOR CHILDREN: This program is open to all children in the parish in grades Kindergarten through 4th. ATTENTION PARENTS WHO HAVE CHILDREN IN THE SUNDAY AND TUES-DAY REL. ED. PROGRAMS: The Safe Envi-ronment Program –Protecting God’s Children is a mandated program by the Diocese of San Jose. This program will be offered to the Rel. Ed stu-dents for grades 1st through 6th. The lesson will be taught on Sun., Jan. 24th during the regular Sunday Rel. Ed. class. The lesson will be taught on Tues, Jan. 26th during the regular Tuesday Rel. Ed. class. If parents do not want their child(ren) to attend this presentation, parents must to go to dsj.org/ministries/protecting-gods-children/, click on “Family Resources” and “Parent Opt-Out Form” tab. Print the form, sign it, and send it in to the Religious Educa-tion Office. The students do not attend class on Jan. 24th (Sun.) or Jan. 26th (Tues.) if their parents have turned in the Opt-Out-Form. If you have any questions, please call Sister Feli-cia at 408-264-8764. SACRAMENTAL PROGRAM: There will be a 1st Reconciliation Parent Meeting in the church on Feb. 2nd at 7:00 p.m. This is for parents of children who will be receiving the Sacrament in March. AT LEAST ONE PARENT MUST AT-TEND.
Out of Town? FYI There is a web site, you can access when ever you are out of town and need a church for Mass, Go to www.masstimes.org and look up churches and Mass times, where ever you are. Check it out.
Social Justice
St. Christopher Young Adults
WHEN: Sunday Afternoons, 1:30-3:00 pm (see below for exact dates)
WHERE: Walsh Hall @ St. Christopher Parish,
DETAILS: St. Christopher Young Adults are a group of parishioners ages 18 to 39, single and married, who are connected by our Catholic faith and who actively partici-pate in the life of the Church. Our mission is to “continue lifelong learning in a Catholic environment through spiritual growth, reflection, and service as we strengthen our relation with God though each other, our faith, and our community." The group strives to offer the following programmatic com-ponents on a rotating basis: faith sharing, social events, and service opportunities. Par ticipants are also encouraged to get involved with the liturgical ministries at the Parish.
Please join us on the following Sundays as we build communi-ty, break bread (lunch will be included), and deepen our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ:
Sunday, January 24 from 1:30 until 3 pm Sunday, February 21 from 1:30 until 3 pm
Please contact youth and young adult ministry coordinator Chris Miller at 408-395-7949 or [email protected].
We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!
St Christopher’s 50’s Club Our next meeting will be held on February 12, 2016 in Walsh Hall at 11 a.m.. Following our meeting, a catered lunch by John’s Golden Harvest will be served. The cost is $11:00 and please mail your checks made out to the Over 50’s Club to Lore McCoy at 1311 Vierra Court San Jose 95125. Your check must be in Lore’s hands by Feb 8 because we need to call in the count to John. If Lore does not have your check by Feb 8, you will not be allowed to eat lunch. We hope to see all members at these events.
The themes of inclusiveness and solidarity are once again noted in the scripture readings to-day - "For in one spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slaves or free persons, and we were all given to drink in one Spirit." Jesus' focus is on the plight of the marginalized of society - the poor, captives, blind and oppressed. If this message seems so repetitive in the New testament, one might won-der how significant it ought to be in the lives of 21st Century Christians. Pope Francis in "The Joy of the Gospel" pro-vides some very compelling comments : (182) "It is no longer possible to claim that religion should be restricted to the private sphere and that it exists only to prepare souls for heaven. - - - Christian conversion demands reviewing es-pecially those areas and aspects of life 'related to the social order and the pursuit of the com-mon good' (John Paul II)"; (183) "An authentic faith - which is never comfortable or completely personal - always involves a deep desire to change the world, to transmit values, to leave the earth somehow better than we found it. - -- If indeed 'the just ordering of society and of the state is a central responsibility of politics' the Church 'cannot and must not remain on the sidelines in the fight for justice' (Benedict XVI)". In this election year might we be attentive to what principles the various candidates espouse which portray their embracement or repudiation of the Biblical message of inclusion and solidari-ty. Any questions or Comments please contact: Doug Harper [email protected]
Sign-ups for 2016 St. Chris Co-ed Adult Volleyball League begin now through Feb-ruary 7th. This is our 36th year. If you are looking for a way to have some exercise meet other parishioners, this league is for you. We play Sunday nights at the St. Chris gym from February 21st to May 1st. Sign-up sheets available on our website at: http://www.stchrisvolleyball.blogspot.com.
Events
Alumni
Join us on Sunday January 31st at 9:30 mass to start off Catholic Schools Week
All Alumni are asked to meet in the back of the church before mass
to process as a group
We will have a special blessing and token of recognition for all Alumni
MARRIED COUPLES. How would you like to spend a weekend away with your spouse – just the two of you? Away from everything: the kids, job, phone, bills and house? Plan to get away to a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend. The next Marriage Encounter Weekend is February 26-28, 2016 in Mountain View. For more information visit our website at: sanjosewwme.org or contact Ken & Claranne at [email protected] or 408-782-1413.
Holy Name Society presents the An-nual Family Pancake Breakfast on Sunday January 24th. Breakfast will be served in Healy Hall from 8:30 am to 11:30 am. and the menu will include all you can eat pancakes, ba-
con, sausage, scrambled eggs, orange juice and coffee and the cost is FREE to all. Come visit with your friends and fellow parishioners to wel-come in the New Year.
25 AND 50+ SILVER AND GOLDEN WEDDING ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
February 6, 2016 - 2:00 pm Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph
Bishop Patrick J. McGrath of the Diocese of San Jo-se would like to invite all couples celebrating their 5th (or less), 25th, 40th, and 50th (or more) Wedding Anniversaries in 2016 to participate in the Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph in downtown San Jose. Couples will be invited to renew their wedding vows and will re-ceive a blessing from Bishop McGrath. A short re-ception will follow. For more information or to regis-ter, go to www.dsj.org/ WeddingAnniversaryMass or contact Sylvia Blanch at [email protected], (408) 983-0128. Pre-registration is required by Janu-ary 22. Due to limited seats, reserved seats are only for anniversary couples. Doors open at 12:30pm. Please limit number of guests attending to 5 people
Attention Online Giving Donors: If you have donations posted to your credit card and you have been issued a new credit card by your bank for what ever reason, please be sure and log on to your Online Giving Profile and update your ac-count information. You can access the Online Giv-ing Site by using the link on our Parish Website, www.SaintChris.com. If you have any questions
Thank you for your continued support of our Parish.
St. Christopher Ladies’ Guild 46th Annual An que Show
“Explore Italy!”
Friday, January 29th, 2016: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. Saturday, January 30th, 2016: 11 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Sunday, January 31st, 2016: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (restaurant opens at 8:30 a.m., stop in for Sunday breakfast before
the show!)
It's easy and fun - enjoy time with fellow parishion-ers while supporting this community event! Volunteer for a shift, or two! Please sign up to volunteer at https://stchris.ivolunteer.com Contact Michelle Harrison, Audrey Garcia and Victoria Pisani: [email protected]
WE NEED YOU... • In the Kitchen – cooking, serving or working the window. • In the Mercato Centrale – working a sales shift for the Boutique, Raffle or Silent Auction. • Baking – drop off your baked goods in our pantry or help with Pizzelles. • Setting up or Tearing down
PRIVATE DINING ROOM RESERVATIONS Friday, Jan. 29th or Saturday, Jan. 30th Email [email protected] It is perfect for a family dinner or large group! Reservations are on a first come, first serve basis! **Bring this ad to Nina’s Trattoria restaurant and receive $1 off Sunday breakfast for each per-son at your table! Valid Sunday, February 8th from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
KIDS’ CRAFT CORNER Enjoy the Antique Show while kids get to create some-
thing special at our Kids’ Craft Corner! Located in Nano Nagle, these 90-minute Workshops are held Friday and Sat-
urday at 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm, 4 pm and 6 pm Only $15 per child per Workshop.
IN REMEMBRANCE Let us pray for all who have died, that they may rejoice with the Risen Lord,
especially:
Mike Masiello
Did you know that we have an Online Giving pro-gram here at St. Christopher Parish? Our Online Giving program allows you to donate using your VI-SA, Mastercard, or bank account. Donations can be made for the Sunday Offering as well as most Sec-ond Collections and the Parish Renewal Fund. Why use the Online Program? Because gifts are done electronically you will no longer need to worry about remembering to bring your envelopes to church. It also allows you to use VISA or Master-card so you will be able to earn your miles or other awards on your credit cards. You can access our secure site by using the link on our parish website at www.SaintChris.com. Thank you in advance for you support of our parish.
Vigil Location: Planned Parenthood 1691 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126
Vigil Hours: 7AM—7 PM every day Local Contact: Pat 408-497-7270
INFORMATION FOR REPORTING COMPLAINTS OR ALLEGATIONS OF
SEXUAL MISCONDUCT: DIOCESE OF SAN JOSE
THE OFFICE FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS
1150 North First Street, Suite 100 San Jose, CA 95112
Complaints or allegations of Sexual misconduct may be reported via:
The Christopher Ministry provides meals to parish-ioners during times of temporary crisis or hardship. If you or a fellow parishioner needs the help of the Christophers’, please contact the Ministry Chair-persons. Also, please consider becoming a Christo-pher and helping provide this important and com-forting service to members within the community. Thank you in advance for your support.
McDonald, Christian Dietz, Connor Quinn, Adam Christopher Madewell, Richard Stayskal,
Larry Chartier, Andrew Morgan, Derek Carroll, Al-len Ellerbee, Obadihah Petteway, Eric Gentrup,
Michael Arnone, David Wells, Ryan Trapani, Rafi Miranda, Spencer Fishman, Ryan A. Johnson, Da-
vid Ryan, Benjamin Owens-Filice, Christopher Healy, and Christine Doudell
Ann DeMarlo Paul Russo Reggie Jose Rick Lovoy
Alec Giurlani Nina Ratulowski
Connie Himmelsbach Lois Nemeth
Shannon Flynn Vera Gutierrez Dorothy Mariles Roberta Enright,
Dave Paul, Anthony Cardoza,
Lily Rabanal,
Virginia Dalziel, Carol Whelan, Valerie Shupp,
Michael Scullion, Lenore Luedeman, Marcus Espinoza,
Cornell Wade, Marty Rattay, Roy LeFevre,
Martha & Charles Gregersen,
Dave Oliverio, Margret Gaffaney,
Al & Jean Trznadel, and Lena Iaconis
Pray for the ill in our Parish
Santa Teresa Parish in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the Vatican II’s Nostra Aetate The Church and Other Religions presents a five part se-ries about non-Christian traditions. Our next speaker will have a presentation and open dialog about Jain-ism on February 17th in the church located at 794 Calero Avenue, S.J., CA 95123. This series is free and open to everyone. No reservation is required.
