Readings: January 10, 2016. First Sunday of Epiphany

First Reading. Isaiah 44: 28-45:4. Second Reading 2 Timothy 3:10-15 .

Gospel: Luke 4: 16-22.

January 10, 2016 Season of Epiphany Vol. 13 No: 2

St. Thomas, our Father in Faith Pray for us

Parish Schedule Liturgical Celebrations:

Sunday: 8:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 5:00PM

Monday-Tuesday : 7:00 PM

Thursday: 7:00 PM,

Novena to St. Alphonsa

Friday: 9:00 AM, 8:00 PM

Adoration : 10:00 AM - 8:00 PM

Saturday: 9:00 AM.,

Novena to St. Mary

CCD: Sunday: 10:15 AM.

Reconciliation: Before Mass on the day of Liturgical Service at the church:

Sacrament of the Sick:

Contact Rev. Fr. Vicar if anyone is

seriously ill.-516-454-7550. 281 935 7275 .

Events Calendar

January 10 parish Council

February 5.First Friday

February 7. Great lent

February 8. Ash Monday

February 12. Way of the Cross

February 14. Parish Council

——————————————— January Volunteers: St. Antoney Ward February Volunteers: S . Augustine Ward March Volunteers: St. Chavara Ward April Volunteers: St. George Ward May Volunteers: St. Joseph ward

My Dear Children, Sisters and Brothers, We take ‘sides’ in our daily lives, often times they are ‘safe’ sides. How about

God? Does He take side? God takes side of the poor, oppressed, suppressed and down-trodden. In the Bible we read that God takes the side of the poor and needy. He com-mands to show generosity to them and speak in favor of them. “Open your mouth in be-half of the mute, and for the rights of the destitute; Open your mouth, judge justly, de-fend the needy and the poor!” (Proverbs 31:8-9). The Psalmist says how God protects the poor and needy, “Because they rob the weak, and the needy groan, I will now rise,” says the Lord’ “I will grant safety to whoever longs for it.” (Psalms 12:6). God blesses those who help the needy and the poor, for, “Whoever cares for the poor lends to the Lord, who will pay back the sum in full.” (Proverbs 19:17).

Jesus, in continuation to the Old Testament teachings, discloses His mission. He declares about His ministry – ‘He has come to bring glad tidings to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.’ (Luke 4:18-19). God often times advised the prophets, kings and priests to give care to the needy and poor. “Thus says the Lord of hosts: Judge with true justice, and show kindness and compassion toward each other. Do not oppress the widow or the orphan, the resident alien or the poor; do not plot evil against one another in your hearts.” (Zechariah 7:9-10). Jesus has the good news for those who are poor, living in darkness of sin and slavery; He announces the retrieval to their life – life as children of God.

Jesus today invites us to experience the ‘freedom’ He brings and calls us to proclaim this freedom to the world. The secular world today attempts to flatten the Christians and their faith; there is a huge imbalance of wealth and power. The rich be-come richer and the poor become poorer. Power works with the rich, and the justice goes with money. It is good to heed the words of Pope Francis. Pope, in his address said, “The current crisis is not only economic and financial but is rooted in an ethical and anthropo-logical crisis. Concern with the idols of power, profit, and money, rather than with the value of the human person has become a basic norm for functioning and a crucial crite-rion for organization. We have forgotten and are still forgetting that over and above busi-ness, logic and the parameters of the market is the human being; and that something is men and women in as much as they are human beings by virtue of their profound dig-nity: to offer them the possibility of living a dignified life and of actively participating in the common good. Benedict XVI reminded us that precisely because it is human, all human activity, including economic activity, must be ethically structured and governed (cf. Encyclical Letter Caritas in Veritate, n. 36). We must return to the centrality of the human being, to a more ethical vision of activities and of human relationships without the fear of losing something.” (The Centesimus Annus Pro Pntifice Foundation, 5/25/2013) . Fr. Ligory Johnson Philips.

St. Mary’s SYRO-MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH

926 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage, NY 11804.

516 454 7550. www.stmaryssyromalabar.org

PAGE 2 ST. MARY’S SYRO MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH JANUARY 10, 2016

ALTAR SERVERS

1/10/2015 1/17/2016

Ronald Roy Dani Sebastian

George Puthussery Blessy Sebastian

Martin Puthussery Albin Robert

Vinaya Robert

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Contact: Mr. Alex Manchery (516) 775-1335

1/10/2016 1/17/2016

Aleyamma Mathew Thomas Cherian

Mary Nedumkallel Jose Kanattu

Jose Thottukadavil Alex Mancherry

Kathreen Pattett Jeriks Tom

CCD ——————————————————————— VATICAN CITY — In his Christmas Eve homily Thursday, Pope Francis noted the simplicity of Jesus' birth as he rebuked what he called societies' intoxica-tion with consumerism, pleasure, abundance and wealth.

Christians around the world joyfully pre-pared to recall the birth of Jesus. But in his only public Christmas Mass, in the splendor of St. Peter's Basilica, the pope counter-weighted his joy with a lament for people's excesses and what he de-scribed as a "culture of indifference, which not infrequently turns ruthless."

Francis said Jesus "calls us to act soberly, in other words, in a way that is simple, balanced, consistent, capable of seeing and doing what is essential." Referring to Jesus' birth in a Bethlehem stable, the pope said the child was "born into the poverty of this world; there was no room in the inn for him and his family."

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A BLESSED ANNIVERSARY OF ORDINATION TO OUR

ACHEN:

DECEMBER 30.

KAIKARANS Mr. Joy Myladoor– 516 474 8571 Mr. Roy Parambath-516 232 1724. Mr. Vincent Vathapallil-516 395 1492. Mr. Vincent Pulinthanathu– 516 395 2231. Email: trustees@stmaryssyromalabar.org WARD SECRETARIES

Mrs. Chinnamma Thyparampil-St. Jude. 718 468 0771. Mr. Vincent Pulinthanathu-St. Alphonsa. 516 395 2231. Mr. Thomson Kurian-St. Anthony. 516 348 3493. Mr. Vincent Vathappallil-St. Augustine. 516 395 1492. Mr. Robert Thomas-St. Chavara. 516 216 1161. Mr. Mathew Thomas-St. George. 516 661 0294. Mr. Joseph Chacko-St. Joseph. 516 776 3804. Mr. Thomas Karimpil-Guardian Angel. 917 573 3632.

OUR MISSION We the faith-filled descendants of St. Thomas the Apostle, and the members of the Syro-Malabar hierarchy nourished by the rich traits of one of the ancient cultures, thrive to impart our faith and culture to the whole world and especially to our descendants. Through worship, motivation, support and education we foster spiritual growth, Syro-Malabar traditions and values. With open hearts and helping hands we respond to the needs of our community and the world.

Contact Information

Vicar : Rev. Ligory Johnson Philips: Phone: 516-454-7550: Cell: (281) 935 7275

Email: kattiakaran@yahoo.com: Website: www.stmaryssyromalabar.org

MASS INTENTIONS

PRAYER MEETINGS: Please contact your Ward Secretary.

Contact: Mr. George Nampiaparampil, (718) 479 6769

1/15/16. Antony Puthenpura

1/16/16. George Cheripuram.

1/23/16. Jose Chengoth.

1/24/16. Tomichen Varghese.

1/28/16. Roy Varghese.

2/5/16. Jose Chengoth

2/9/16. Roy Parambath.

2/11/16. Thomas Varickamakkel.

PAGE 5 ST.MARY’S SYRO-MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH JANUARY 10, 2016

SACRAMENTS Please contact our Pastor & Vicar Rev. Fr. Ligory Johnson Philips for the Sacraments of Marriage and Baptism. 516-454-7550. Active membership of six months required. TOGETHER IN FAITH. ****************************************************** IN YOUR CHARITY PLEASE PRAY FOR THE SICK. Mrs. Rachel John, 72-65 Littleneck Pkwy, Glen Oaks, NY-11004,Mrs. Mariamma Varkey 1 Brisbane Street, New Hyde Park.

———————————————————————— Luke 4:16-22.

He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up, and went ac-cording to his custom into the synagogue on the Sabbath day. He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah. He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord."

Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down, and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him. He said to them, "Today this scripture passage is ful-filled in your hearing. And all spoke highly of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth. They also asked, "Isn't this the son of Joseph?"

TRAIN TO BE A EUCHARISTIC MINISTER

PLEASE CONTACT ACHEN.

————————————————————————— Proverbs 11:25 “A generous person will prosper; whoever re-freshes others will be refreshed.”

Please remember your weekly offering. Thank you.

——————————————— 2016 PARISH CALENDAR will be distributed on 12/24/15. SPECIAL THANKS TO DR. JOSE KANATTU for trans-porting the Calendar from Kerala. —————————————————————————————

MOTHER THERESA

Mother Teresa of Calcutta, the Nobel laureate known for dedicating her life to helping the poorest of the poor, will be made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. Pope Francis has cleared the way for sainthood by approving a decree recognizing a second miracle attributed to her interces-sion with God - a necessary event for such a move in the church.

Mother Teresa, who died in 1997 at the age of 87, be-come an international icon of charity in the 20th century but has also been criticized for trying to convert people to Christianity.

She was beatified in 2003 by the late Pope John Paul II. Beatification, which requires one miracle, is the last step before sainthood, which requires two.

READINGS January 17, 2016. Isaiah 45:11-17

Hebrews 3:1-6.

John 1:14-18.

PAGE 3 ST. MARY’S SYRO-MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH JANUARY 10, 2016

Mission Prayer

Lord our God, we praise and adore You for sending Your beloved Son and our Lord Jesus Christ to this world for the redemption of mankind. Bless us to continue the proclamation of the gospel of the king-dom Jesus preached. Strengthen O Lord, our frail nature that we may celebrate worthily these sacred mysteries given for the renewal and salvation of mankind. Lord of All, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, for ever.

St. Alphonsa Pray for us

PRAYER LINE

CONFERENCE CALL

857 232 0157

PASS CODE 530005

8:30 PM Everyday.

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Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world.

For the sake of His sorrowful Pas-sion, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world.

PAGE 4 ST. MARY’S SYRO-MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH JANUARY 10, 2016

Capital Campaign Updates. 12/27/15.

Active membership: 468 Families Pledged: 332. Targeted Pledge: 5,000,000. Amount Pledged: 2,612,212. Cash Received: 1,643,961 Pledge balance to Collect: 968,251.

Capital Campaign Team Joseph Thomas George Cheripuram Saju Kanatt Babu Joseph John Emmanuel Mary Philip Joseph Varghese Shaju Mathew Laly Kalapurackal Shiby George

Ward Guardian Angel St. Jude St. Joseph St. Alphonsa St. Anthony St. Chavara St. George St. Augustine Chairperson Vice Chairman

Phone number 646 468 3211 516 734 1273 516 225 8572 516 439 6687 516 589 3915 516 352 5172 646 812 6406 516 851 5453 516 232 4819 718 551 5894

OFFERINGS: 1/3/16

Mass: 2068 Building Fund: 7365

Thank you.

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THANKS THANKS FROM ST.MARY’S TO FR. LIGORY, PARISH COUNCIL, CCD TEACHERS AND ALL OTHER VOLUNTEERS.

SPECIAL THANKS TO Mr. Larry Sloth.

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SMCC ESSAY AWARD—ASWHLEY DOMINIC

Honor the LORD with your possessions, And with the first fruits

of all your increase. Proverbs 3:9