Epiphany of the Lord Established 1865 January 3, 2016

Congratulations

Rev. Anthony A. Joseph

40 Years of Priesthood

Ordained December 20, 1975

LIVING OUR FAITH

Dear People of God,

A Blessed, joyful and healthy New Year to all! We continue our Christmas Season —

and our beautifully lit trees, angels, mangers, candles and poinsettias shout the

Season of Christmas! This Christmas Season and our new year speak of birth and

new beginnings. God speaks to us at all the moments of our life if we open our eyes,

ears and hearts ― and listen.

Please share this following true story with family and friends.

How Life Is Measured

I had a very special teacher in high school many years ago whose husband unexpectedly

and suddenly died of a heart attack. About a week after his death, she shared some of her

insight with a classroom of students. As the late afternoon sunlight came over, she moved a

few things aside on the edge of her desk and sat down there. With a gentle look of reflection

on her face, she paused and said, “Before class is over, I would like to share with all of you a

thought that is unrelated to class, but which I feel is very important.”

“Each of us is put here on earth to learn, share, love, appreciate and give of ourselves. None

of us know when this fantastic experience will end. It can be taken away at any moment.

Perhaps this is a way of telling us that we must make the most out of every single day.

Her eyes beginning to water, she went on, “So I would like you all to make me a promise. From

now on, on your way to school, or on your way home, find something beautiful to notice. It

doesn’t have to be something you see, it could be a scent ― perhaps freshly baked bread

wafting out someone’s house, or it could be the sound of the breeze slightly rustling the leaves

in the trees, or the way the morning light catches the autumn leaf as it falls gently to the

ground. Please look for these things, and cherish them. For, although it may sound trite to

some, these things are the stuff of life. The little things we are put here on earth to enjoy. The

things we often take for granted. We must make it important to notice them, for at any time…

it can all be taken away.” The class was completely quiet. We all picked up our books and

filed out of the room silently.

That afternoon I noticed more things on my way home from school than I had that whole

semester. Every once in awhile, I think of that teacher and remember what an impression she

made on all of us, and I try to appreciate all those things that sometimes we all overlook. Take

notice of something special you see on your way to lunch hour today. When you go home, go

barefoot. Or walk on the beach at sunset. Stop off on the way home tonight to get a double-

dip ice cream cone. “For as we get older, it is not the things we did that we often regret, but

the things we didn’t do.”

“Don’t cry because it’s over; smile because it happened.”

“Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our

breath away.”

Blessings in the New Year,

Fr. Greg

Fr. Greg Sakowicz

Epiphany of the Lord Saint Mary Parish · Evanston, Illinois 3

1012 Lake Street

Evanston, Illinois 60201

847 864-0333 847 864-0354 fax

stmaryevanston.org

office@stmaryevanston.org

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday (vigil) 5 p.m.

Sunday 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.

Monday - Saturday 8 a.m.

Thursday is a Communion Service

Holy Days 8 a.m. noon and 7 p.m.

Pastor

Rev. Gregory S. Sakowicz, ext. 214

Associate Pastor

Rev. Antony A. Joseph, ext. 212

Deacon

Dennis Robak, ext. 209

Business Manager

Patricia Palacios, ext. 202 ppalacios@stmaryevanston.org

Director of Religious Education

Karie Ferrell, ext. 203 kferrell@stmaryevanston.org

Director of Music & Liturgy

Dianne Fox, ext. 210 dfox@stmaryevanston.org

Pastoral Associate

Sister Katie Mitchell, ext. 211 sisterkatie@stmaryevanston.org

Bulletin Editor

Linda O’Dwyer, ext. 231 bulletin@stmaryevanston.org

Deadline is Friday at noon ten days before

the Sunday of publication.

Pope John XXIII School

Principal, Gail Hulse

Development Director, Christina Lampa

1120 Washington Street

Evanston, Illinois 60202

847 475-5678

Saint Vincent de Paul Society

847 869-6134

Saint Mary Young Adult Catholics

(SMYAC) https://www.facebook.com/groups/393744270696970/

About Father Tony Father Antony A. Joseph, son of Joseph and

Anna Aravindassery, was born on February 3,

1949, in Perumpilly, Kerala State, India and was baptized on the 8th

day at Holy Family Catholic Church.

After completing elementary school in his home town, at the age

of 13, he entered the minor seminary of the Archdiocese of

Verapoly, where he finished his high school and college. Fr. Tony

entered St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary in Alway, Kerala in June

1968 and completed his three years of Philosophy and four years

of Theology. He was ordained December 20, 1975, at Our Lady of

Perpetual Succor Parish, Ochanthuruth, by the late Archbishop

Joseph Kelanthara, then Archbishop of Verapoly.

In September 1977, he was sent to the United States to study at De

Paul University of Chicago where he earned three master’s

degrees, in History, Education, and Public Service. Fr. Tony served

three parishes, Old St. Patrick’s Church in Chicago, Saint Mary Star

of the Sea near Midway Airport, and Prince of Peace Church in

Lake Villa as an extern priest before his incardination into the

Archdiocese of Chicago in the fall of 2006. Since then he has

been assigned to Saint Mary’s as an Associate Pastor and

continues to serve the people of God here in this parish.

God Bless you, Fr. Tony! You are a profound gift to all of us!

4 Saint Mary Parish· Evanston, Illinois January 3, 2016

LITURGICAL MINISTERS for Saturday-Sunday, January 9-10

5 p.m. 8 a.m. 9:30 a.m. 11 a.m.

Presider

Homilist

Fr. Tony

Fr. Tony

Fr. Tony

Fr. Tony

Fr. Greg

Fr. Greg

Fr. Greg

Fr. Greg

Greeters

North

East

Lucy Hayes

Joan Joyner

Elaine Pollak

Mary DuCharme

Edmond Martin

Patricia Heaston

Ladies & Gentlemen of

Misericordia

Eucharistic

Ministers

Ann Murray

Volunteers needed

Richard Krause

Volunteers needed

Jay Bergeron

Volunteers needed

Volunteers needed

Lectors Anne Osburn

Vince Gerasole

Sally Dempsey

Vicki Kirksey

Paula Haynes

Mark Kelly

Claire Barber

Sister Katie Mitchell

Altar

Servers

Volunteers needed Josie Hansen

Mads Hansen

Volunteer needed

Abby Owens

Volunteer needed

Pray for our military, pray for peace LCDR Edward Carlton, U.S. Navy, son of Frank &

Caroline Carlton Airman Lindsey Foley, U.S. Air

Force, Scott AFB, niece of Chris Foley Airman

Richard J. Hamilton, U.S. Air Force, nephew of John

& Patti Szarnych Sgt. Jared Kalmes, U.S. Army,

nephew of Joel Fondell LCDR Richard Kazmarek,

U. S. Navy, friend of Charles Luczak Jeremy Storck,

U.S. Coast Guard, friend of the Szarnych family

Ensign Daniel Kozicki, U.S. Navy, nephew of Linda

O’Dwyer.

Please remember in your prayers…

… those who are sick, especially Ted Rychalski;

Ducanor Cadet; Mary Beth Egner; Yolande Vilsaint;

Devin Simon; Edovia Bernadel; Sloan McGinnis; Hazel

Grace Benson; Jim Osburn; Joanie Sowinski; Dean

Mitchell; Melanie Bishop; Tony Pawlik; Jennefer

Folsom; Caleb Anthony; Molly Rooney; Melanie

Bishop; and Shannon Ambroise. Also please

remember in your prayers all those who have

recently died., especially Dwight Singleton, Jr.,

grandson of Fran Livatino.

MASS SCHEDULE.

Saturday (vigil) 5 p.m.

Sunday 8 a.m., 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m.

Monday - Saturday: 8 a.m.

Thursday is a Communion Service.

Holy Days: 8 a.m., noon and 7 p.m.

RECONCILIATION. Saturday from 4 to 4:30 p.m. and

the first Saturday of the month from 8:30 - 9 a.m.

Reconciliation also available by appointment

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION. Every Sunday from 3 to 6 p.m.

or as announced in the Bulletin.

REGISTRATION. Saint Mary Parish welcomes new

parishioners. Please make an appointment with the pastor.

BAPTISM. Third Sunday of the month at 12:15 p.m.,

except during Lent. Parish membership is a prerequisite.

MARRIAGE. Arrangements should be made with the parish

at least four months in advance.

RCIA - RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION OF ADULTS.

For adults or teenagers interested in becoming a Catholic

and receiving the sacraments of initiation (Baptism,

Eucharist or Confirmation).

MINISTERS OF CARE.

Ministers of care are available to bring Holy Communion to

those who are home-bound, in the hospital or in a nursing

home.

To arrange for the following, please call the Parish Office at 847 864-0333. PARISH LIFE

This schedule reflects activity as of December 22, 2015. Please check the online Ministry Scheduler for current needs.

Parent formation sessions for baptism will be held

on the following dates. All sessions are at 7 p.m. in

the Parish Center. To register, please contact the

Parish Office at 847 864-0333.

Tuesday, January 12 Wednesday, April 6

Wednesday, March 2 Thursday, June 2

Tuesday, August 9

Epiphany of the Lord Saint Mary Parish · Evanston, Illinois 5

Our Faith and Contemporary Issues that Move and Challenge Us The Feast of the Epiphany: Immigration Though the Lens of Our Faith

Sister Katie Mitchell, FSPA, Pastoral Associate

Today we remain before the manger gazing and

reflecting on the baby born in Bethlehem, God who

came to earth not only for us, but also for our

brothers and sisters all over the world, represented

today by the Magi. Today’s Feast of the Epiphany,

which also marks the beginning in the United States

of National Migration Week, invites us to reflect and

pray on God who came to us, who became

incarnate in our world, and who invites us to create a

world where all are accepted, loved and welcomed

and where we share our resources with those

displaced because of war, poverty, oppression and

inhumane conditions. Like the Magi and their journey

in search of the Messiah, so many men, women and

children in our own country are seeking a better

homeland and a more peaceful life.

Days before Christmas several of us from Saint Mary

Parish participated in “Las Posadas” in downtown

Chicago. This yearly event organized by the

Archdiocesan Office of Immigrant Affairs was an

invitation to walk in solidarity with our immigrant

sisters and brothers seeking immigration reform. As

we marched together in cold, downtown Chicago, I

reflected on Mary and Joseph finding “no room in

the inn” and on the words of T. S. Elliot in “The

Journey of the Magi” which came to me in a

powerful way:

A cold coming we had of it,

Just the worst time of the year

For a journey, and such a journey:

The ways deep and the weather sharp,

The very dead of winter.

This experience of “Las Posadas” offered me an

opportunity to reflect on the journey of immigrants

today seeking compassionate comprehensive

immigration reform and to do so through the eyes of

faith. Just as Mary and Joseph who journeyed not

knowing were they would find shelter and the Magi

who were following a star on a difficult journey that

came at great cost to them so, too, many

immigrants without U.S. documents do not know

when they will have “legislative” shelter.

The issue of immigration is a moral issue, a Catholic

issue. Today’s immigration system often fails to

respect the human rights and dignity of people. I

have met families in tears outside Chicago’s

Broadview Detention Center that were broken apart

by our current laws and policies. I have talked with

immigrant workers being exploited by unethical

employers who take advantage of the system. The

Feast of Epiphany encourages us to recognize that

all are children of God, including newcomers in need

who come to our land. We must remember that

many of the roots of our own family trees include

immigrant roots and that we are a Church built by

immigrants.

This Epiphany we are invited to reflect on the whole

of our lives as a journey. Is the star that we are

following the light of Jesus? How are we are being a

light for those who in search of light and justice in our

world?

Young At Hearts The next meeting of the Young at Hearts will be

Thursday, January 14 at 12:15 p.m. in the Gathering

Space. They will be playing Bingo! Please bring your

own brown bag lunch. Dessert and beverages will

be served. All are welcome.

6 Saint Mary Parish · Evanston, Illinois January 3, 2016

Epiphany of the Lord Saint Mary Parish · Evanston, Illinois 7

Mercy IS KNOCKING AT THE DOOR

Nourish your spirit,

Nurture your faith

The Holy Year of Mercy

In the Saint Mary Parish Center 7-9 p.m.

Thursday, January 14 7-9 p.m. Opening Evening: A Year of Mercy

The Cry for Mercy in Our Lives & Our World

Presenter: Katie Mitchell, FSPA

Thursday, February 18 7-9 p.m. The God of Mercy in Scripture

Presenter: Fr. Ken Budzikowski

Monday, March 7 7-9 p.m. Finding the God of Mercy in Our Spirituality

Presenter: Luz Eugenia Alvarez, M.Div.

Thursday, April 7 7-9 p.m. How Mercy Can Transform Our Lives

Psychologically

Presenter: Fran Marie Sulzer, FSPA

Thursday, May 12 7-9 p.m. A Pastoral Understanding of Mercy

Presenter: Fr. Greg Sakowicz

“God’s mercy lovingly heals

the wounds of sin.”

- Pope Francis

8 Saint Mary Parish · Evanston, Illinois January 3, 2016

Seasons of Hope:

Journeying with Grief Mondays 7-9 p.m. beginning January 11

In the Parish Center Chapel

Are you mourning the loss of a loved one? Please

consider joining our support group for the bereaved.

With the care of our faith community, we give voice to

our unique journey of grief and find healing through scripture, prayer, reflection

activities and faith sharing. Questions? Contact Sister Katie or Dianne Fox.

Thanks from the Society of

Saint Vincent de Paul During the weekend of December 5-6, a special

collection was taken for our St. Vincent de Paul Society

to provide emergency assistance to those in need.

Times are changing and the number of God’s people

who are in need is growing. As of this writing, we have

made in excess of 170 home visits that resulted in

services being provided that benefited in excess of

1,900 individuals. We thank you for your generous contributions of $5,441.

Because of you, needs will be met. Utility bills will be paid; rental assistance will

be provided; people will eat; medical prescriptions will be secured.

We Vincentians thank you for giving life to our mission and we ask that you

keep those in need in your hearts and prayers.

Special Second Collection for

Little Sisters of the Poor next weekend On the weekend of January 9-10, Sister Michael of the Little Sisters of the Poor

will speak at all Masses. The Little Sisters of the Poor operate a home with three

levels of care for the elderly poor in Chicago. It’s one of more than 180 homes

the Little Sisters of the Poor run in 31 countries throughout the world. Your support

will enable them to continue their mission of caring for the elderly poor in a spirit

of joy and dignity. Any assistance you are able to give will be deeply

appreciated.

Epiphany of the Lord Saint Mary Parish · Evanston, Illinois 9

MASS INTENTIONS Saturday, January 2

5:00 † Rita Higgins

Sunday, January 3—Epiphany

8:00 † Sr. Maureen O’Flanagan

9:30 † Marianne Lisowski

11:00 † Poor Souls in Purgatory

Monday, January 4

8:00 † Robert J. Rooney

Tuesday, January 5

8:00 † Jerome Donohue

Wednesday, January 6

8:00 † Gene Dempsey & † Thomas Forman

Thursday, January 7

8:00 Communion Service

Friday, January 8

8:00 † Mike Tivnan

Saturday, January 9

8:00 TBA

5:00 † Simone Jacques

Sunday, January 10

8:00 † Mike Tivnan

9:30 † Sr. Úna Guing

11:00 Special Intentions of Anna & Garrett Wells

Readings for the Week

Monday: 1 Jn 3:22 - 4:6; Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a;

Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

Tuesday: 1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 72:1-4, 7-8;

Mk 6:34-44

Wednesday: 1 Jn 4:11-18; Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13;

Mk 6:45-52

Thursday: 1 Jn 4:19 - 5:4; Ps 72:1-2, 14, 15bc,

17; Lk 4:14-22a

Friday: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15, 19-20;

Lk 5:12-16

Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21; Ps 149:1-6a, 9b;

Jn 3:22-30

Sunday: Is 42:1-4, 6-7 or Is 40:1-5, 9-11;

Ps 29:1-4, 3, 9-10 or Ps 104:1b-4, 24-

25, 27-30; Acts 10:34-38 or Ti 2:11-14;

3:4-7; Lk 3:15-16, 21-22

RESPECT LIFE By Another Way

The Magi, truth seekers, came to the Great City

Jerusalem for guidance on finding Him who is Truth.

Matt 2:1-2 But Herod saw Truth as a rival and wanted

to kill Him. So he disingenuously asked the kings to

tell him where Truth lies when they found Him, saying

he too would come and worship.

The kings did find Truth. But being warned in a

dream, they, transformed, joyfully returned to their

home by another way. Id. at 12

We too are seekers, about truths touching life, family

and marriage. And we, like the Magi, hear from

seculars who fear Truth as a competitor and even say

there is no truth.

Pray that we seek and hear Truth from sacred

sources and trusted voices and, joyfully embracing it,

go home by another way.

Saints & Special Observances

Sunday: Epiphany of the Lord;

National Migration Week

Monday: St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

Tuesday: St. John Neumann

Wednesday: St. André Bessette

Thursday: St. Raymond of Penyafort;

Julian Calendar Christmas

“Did you hear about the short fortune-

teller who escaped from prison and is now a