~ Happy New Year ~
2012

"Come Follow me"

~ Third Week of Ordinary Time ~

On the Third Sunday of Ordinary Time, The readings include the wonderful story from Mark's Gospel repeated from last week's weekday readings: Jesus calls Simon, Andrew, James and John. “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.”

The church celebrates very important feasts this week.

* Tuesday 24th is the Memorial of ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
* Wednesday 25th is the Feast of the CONVERSION OF ST. PAUL
* Thursday 26th is the Feast of ST. TIMOTHY and ST. TITUS
* Saturday is 28th the Memorial of ST. THOMAS AQUINAS

In Mark's Gospel this week, we have many familiar stories. The scribes, hearing of his many healings, accuse Jesus of being possessed by Satan. He replies that a house is divided against itself cannot stand. Jesus speaks of seeds being planted and of growing. He encourages his disciples not to hide their light “under a bushel basket” and tells the story of the mustard seed, the tiniest seed which grows into one of the largest bushes.

We are still at the beginning of a new year, and this is a good time to answer the call in our hearts to spend more time with Jesus, in prayer.

"Only say the word, and my servant will be healed"
- Matthew 8:8

Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of January

General: "That the victims of natural disasters may receive the spiritual and material comfort they need to rebuild their lives."

Missionary: "That the dedication of Christians to peace may bear witness to the name of Christ before all men and women of good will. "

HIS HOLINESS BENEDICT XVI
HOLY MASS AND CONSIGNMENT OF THE POST-SYNODAL APOSTOLIC EXHORTATION TO THE BISHOPS OF AFRICA
- ...Jesus, the Son of Man, the ultimate judge of our lives, wished to appear as one who hungers and thirsts, as a stranger, as one of those who are naked, sick or imprisoned, ultimately, of those who suffer or are outcast; how we treat them will be taken as the way we treat Jesus himself... - read more ...