BLESSED SACRAMENT PARISH COMMUNITY

518 W. State St., Grand Island, NE 68801 308-384-0532 Website: blsachurch.net E-Mail: bscc_1@msn.com

Sunday, January 11, 2015 The Baptism of the Lord

Why was Jesus baptized? He wasn't in need of repentance. Why, for that matter, did Jesus do anything at all? Not just to save us from our sins by dying on the cross! There is so much more to Jesus. Jesus united Himself to sinners. First, He humbled Himself to become one of us, a human with the same needs we have every day. Then He surrendered Himself to the baptismal water so that when we are baptized, He is there in the water with us, raising us up to a new life, the holy life, everlasting life. Everything that Jesus did shows us by example who we are: what the Father created us to be like and how we are to live as children of God. When Jesus was baptized and the Holy Spirit descended upon Him and the Father said, "You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased," He showed us by example what happens at every person's baptism. The Holy Spirit descended upon YOU and the Father said about YOU: "You are my beloved child; with you I am well pleased!" In the Jordan River, Jesus was reborn from ordinary life to a life of ministry. Baptism does that for us, too. Is there some repentance you need to do so that you can be reborn more fully into what the Father created you to do – your divine purpose, the ministry He has called you to do? Let us begin the Church Season of Ordinary Time with a renewal of our baptismal purification:

Do you reject Satan? And all his works? And all his empty promises?

Do you believe in God the Father? Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son, who was born of the Virgin Mary, crucified, and rose from the dead? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting?

A prayer of recommitment:

"Dear God, I am a sinner. I sometimes fail to put You first in my life. Forgive me. Change me. Renew me. To demonstrate that I truly want You to be Lord of my life, I will do a special act, just as Jesus put His life fully into the Father's hands by surrendering to John's baptism. The act that I choose to do is _____. Amen!" And God the Father says of you: "This is my beloved son/daughter; with him/her I am well pleased!"

Reflect & Discuss:

1. What do you know about your baptism? When was it? Where? Who was there?

2. How did this Sacrament affect your life as the years went by?

3. Why does this mean that the Father is pleased with you?

READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Sun., Jan. 11

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

Ps 29:1-4, 9-10

Acts 10:34-38

Mark 1:7-11

Mon., Jan. 12

Heb 1:1-6

Ps 97:1, 2b, 6,

7c, 9

Mark 1:14-20

Tues., Jan. 13

Heb 2:5-12

Ps 8:2ab, 5-9

Mark 1:21-28

Wed., Jan. 14

Heb 2:14-18

Ps 105:1-9

Mark 1:29-39

Thurs., Jan. 15

Heb 3:7-14

Ps 95:6-11

Mark 1:40-45

Fri., Jan. 16

Heb 4:1-5, 11

Ps 78:3, 4bc,

6c-7, 8

Mark 2:1-12

Sat., Jan. 17

St. Anthony

Heb 4:12-16

Ps 19:8-10, 15

Mark 2:13-17

Hello Church! I

am glad that the

Catholic Church has

its liturgical calen-

dar. It keeps us out

of pace with the

world’s calendar. Our liturgical calendar calls us to

keep up our Christmas decorations after the world

has taken the decorations down and moved on.

I always take some time after Christmas to just

spend some time in the Church and behold the beauty

of the place and the message of the season. The

message of Christmas and the Christ child is living

and enduring.

Oh, come, let us adore Him . . . Christ the Lord.

Peace and all good things.

Fr. Todd

Weekend Mass Schedule

Saturday – 5:30 p.m.

Sunday – 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m.

Weekday Mass Schedule

Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday – 12:05 p.m.

Friday – 7:00 a.m.

Reconciliation

Wednesday – 11:30 a.m.-Noon

Saturday – 10:30-11:30 a.m.

or by appointment

Our Deepest Sympathy

to the Families of:

RUTH KULA

&

FR. JAKE BAUER,

MAY THEY REST IN PEACE!

We pray for the following

parishioners, who are

currently serving in the

military:

Jason Sands Bryan Hulit

Jeff Bellamy Eric Mohnike Chad Brown

Heather Rempe Steven Schwartz

Shawn Ruzicka Kevin Donovan

John G. Frankenberg Alex Witmer

Please remember the following

individuals in your prayers,

who are experiencing serious

health problems/issues:

Elna Gappa Anna Blake

Larry Palacz Pat Myers

Elizabeth Webster Genevieve Merrick

Scott Miller Andy Buhrman

John Pedrosa, Sr. Don Jarzynka Lori Walz

Marion Schutte James Lentz Leisa Gracia

Kristine Bussinger Kalyn Rodriguez

Ruth Noziska Audrie Zeleski Rosetta Reimers

Sharon Koperski Michael A. Lopez

Rose Ann Anderson Blanche Janulewicz

Terri Waskowiak Merlin Yosten

Bernardine Ferguson Glorene Harders

Let us know if you, or an immediate family

member, are experiencing a serious health issue and

wish to be included on this list.

Dishes! If you brought a salad or dessert for a

funeral dinner, please stop by the kitchen to pick up

your dish. If not picked up by February 1, we will

donate it to the Thrift Store. Thank you!

OUR GIFTS OF TREASURE January 3/4, 2015

Adult Envelopes $ 9,084.50

Plate 245.00

Children’s 26.47

Online 5,090.00

WEEKDAY MASS & INTENTIONS SHEDULE

Tuesday, January 13, 12:05 p.m. –

Esther Feik

Wednesday, January 14, 12:05 p.m. –

Special Intention

Thursday, January 15, 12:05 p.m. –

Greg Christensen

Friday, January 16, 7:00 a.m. –

Esther Dahlke

Saturday, January 17, 5:30 p.m. –

Esther Feik

Sunday, January 18, 8:00 a.m. –

Leroy Cote

Sunday, January 18, 10:00 a.m. –

Parish Family

WEEK’S ACTIVITIES Sunday, 1/11 Food Pantry Sunday

10:00 a.m. - Communion Blessing

2:00 p.m. - First Communion

Family Meeting

Monday, 1/12 5:30 p.m. - Yoga

Tuesday, 1/13 6:30 a.m. - Men’s Early Morning

Tuesday Group

1:00 p.m. - Quilting

7:00 p.m. - Baptism Preparation

Class

7:00 p.m. - AA & Alanon Meetings

Wednesday, 1/14 5:00 p.m. - Rel. Ed. Grades P-5

5:00 p.m. - Adult Enrichment

6:15 p.m. - Rel. Ed. Grades P-5

7:00 p.m. - Confirmation

7:00 p.m. - RCIA

7:30 p.m. - Adult Enrichment

7:30 p.m. - Freshmen Godparent

Group

7:30 p.m. - Rel. Ed. Grades 6-8

7:30 p.m. - Sophomore Godparent

Group

Thursday, 1/15 1:00 p.m. - Quilting

5:00 p.m. - RCIA Adapted for

Children

Saturday, 1/17 TEC Retreat at Holy Spirit in

North Platte, NE

10:00 a.m. - Alanon Meeting

Sunday, 1/18 TEC Retreat at Holy Spirit in

North Platte, NE

10:00 a.m. - Children’s Celebra-

tion

5:00 p.m. - Volunteer Appreciation

Dinner

Children’s Choir Practice: Sunday, January 11,

11:10-11:50 a.m. All children in grades 2-8 are

welcome! We practice weekly on Sundays from

11:10-11:50 a.m., and sing at the 10:00 a.m. Mass on

the fourth Sunday of each month (with practice prior

to the Mass at 9:00 a.m.). Dates we will be singing

are: January 25, February 22, March 22, April 5

(Easter), April 26 and May 24. Come join us!

Eight Foot Tables for Sale: We have

approximately 6 eight foot tables for

sale – these are the heavy duty ones.

Cost: $20.00 each. Contact the Parish

Office if you are interested.

RELIGIOUS FORMATION NEWS

First Communion Blessing, Sunday, January 11,

10:00 a.m. Mass; Family Meeting, 2:00 p.m.,

Jubilee Center, for 2nd graders and their parents.

First Confirmation Class, for juniors, January

14, 7:00-8:30 p.m., Central Catholic library.

Questions, contact Deb Wetzel, 395-8521.

Going Bananas for Jesus, all Catholic teens, 6th-

12th grade, are invited to attend. To be held in

Kearney the weekend of March 27-29, 2015.

Registration forms can be obtained online at

www.youthgidiocese.weebly.com. (Click on the

Retreats/Programs tab and scroll down to Going

Bananas for Jesus.) Cost is $65.00 per person,

which includes a t-shirt. Completed registration

forms, along with a check made payable to

“Going Bananas for Jesus XVIII,” need to be

returned to the Office of Youth and Young Adult

Ministry in North Platte, no later than February

15, 2015. Plan to join other youth, make new

friends, and celebrate what it means to be a

Catholic at Going Bananas 2015!

Edgar Barge Memorial Scholarships: Blessed

Sacrament will award scholarships in the amount

of $l,000 and $500 to two seniors, who are going

on to college. All applications must be

completed on-line at www.gicf.org and click on

the scholarship tab. Completed application must

be electronically submitted on or before February

19. No faxes, emails, or paper applications will

be permitted.

Liturgical Ministers: Please have your January 31-

March 29 schedule requests to Barb Klein by 5:00

p.m. on Monday, January 19. Thank you!

ADULT VOLUNTEER

APPRECIATION DINNER

January 18, 2015

5:00 p.m.

Thank you, God, for Parish Volunteers!! If you

help make Blessed Sacrament Parish “GO,” you (and

your spouse or significant other) are invited to attend

our Adult Volunteer Appreciation Dinner on January

18, beginning at 5:00 p.m. in the Jubilee Center.

If you would like to attend, there ARE sign-up

sheets in the Gathering Area. All reservations must

be made by Monday, January 12, at Noon.

Catholic Daughters Court Queen of Peace #2227:

Tuesday, January 13, after the 12:05 p.m. Mass. We

will be having a salad luncheon, so everyone please

bring a salad.

Baptism Preparation Class: Tuesday, January 13, 7:00 p.m.,

Family Room. This is for parents

preparing for the Baptism of their

baby. This is required, unless you

have participated in such a class within the last year.

Please call Sr. Clarice at 384-0532, Ext. 202, to

register no later than 4:00 p.m., Monday, January 12.

If there are no registrations, the class will not be held.

Sunset Group: Wednesday, January 21, after the

12:05 p.m. Mass. Sign-up sheets can be found in the

Gathering Area.

Young Neighbors in Action for Grades 9-12

Blessed Sacrament high school youth will once again

be participating in Young Neighbors in Action. We

will be going to the Omaha Winnebago Indian

Reservation the week of July 19-25, 2015. This is

the most popular Young Neighbors in Action site

across the nation, and we will be there during the

Pow-Wow. We have reserved ten spaces for high

school students who would like to attend. A $50.00

nonrefundable deposit is required, along with the

registration form, to reserve your space.

Reservations will be accepted on a first-come, first-

serve basis. For more information, and to register,

please contact Deb Wetzel at 395-8521. Young

Neighbors in Action is a week-long, service-learning

experience designed to help teams of high school

youth and adults learn about social justice, serve

those in need, and make a difference in the world.

This is a wonderful opportunity for young people,

and it’s also a lot of fun. Young Neighbors in Action

is a national program sponsored by the Center for

Ministry Development. Please consider making this

mission trip a part of your summer plans. Check out

their website at www.youngneighbors.org.

PARISH THRIFT STORE - 4th & Eddy Streets

Donations are accepted Mondays, Fridays &

Saturdays, from 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.

If you are interested in helping at the Thrift Store,

please call Connie at 384-5508,

or the Thrift Store at 398-3443.

Beloved Son: “He will baptize

you with the Holy Spirit.” When

Jesus came out of the baptismal

waters, he saw the Spirit, like a

dove, come down on Him.

Conceived as the Spirit

overshadowed Mary, Ever-Virgin

Mother, Jesus is attested now by the Father: “You

are my beloved Son; with You I am well pleased.”

Through the Easter mystery, Christ Jesus passes on

the same Holy Spirit to the Church. We are

transformed. Sharing the Spirit, we share God’s life.

Lord, be gracious to us. Kyrie, eleison!

THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD

I imagine that some things take us close to the bliss of heaven. A good book and a blazing fire on a cold night have got to be a glimpse of heaven. Plunging yourself into the Jordan River for the repentance of sins you will never commit is another encounter with the Divine. Huh? Well, isn’t that just how it happened? Jesus, the Sinless One, allowed Himself to be baptized by John, for repentance of sin. In so humbling Himself and taking on our human form completely, Jesus came out of the water and straight into the Beatific Vision. He saw the heavens open and the Spirit descend upon Him. And He heard the Father’s voice claiming Him as the Beloved Son. A glimpse of heaven, indeed. Sometimes, when the sun is shining and I’m out on the porch with a book, I’m pretty sure that heaven and earth have touched. But my husband, who visited India recently, reports that he saw heaven and earth meet when a dying woman in the street reached out to take the bread he offered her. She looked him in the eye and found his heart, longing to be met. He has never witnessed the misery of others so keenly. He has never experienced the nearness of God so profoundly. In that moment, the heavens opened, the Spirit descended, and he heard a voice say, “This is my beloved daughter. Hold her gaze.” Every day we have the chance to split the veil that seems to divide heaven and earth. Often it’s our communion with another that brings the Spirit hovering, and God’s voice in our hearts naming us as beloved.

When have you experienced the meeting of heaven and earth?

Kathy McGovern 2015

www.thestoryandyou.com

EVENTS HAPPENING ELSEWHERE

TeamMates Mentoring Program: This program is a

one-to-one school-based mentoring program in our

community and is in need of caring adults to serve as

mentors. For one hour a week, once a week, you can

make a difference in the life of a youth. As Christians, we

are called to serve. The one-to-one transformative power

of mentoring results in a ripple effect that, over time,

makes a huge difference and can impact families for

generations. Please consider this opportunity and contact

Kathy Boroff (308-227-6295) for more information,

and/or check out www.teammates.org!

Right to Life Meeting: Monday, January 12, 7:00 p.m,

Grand Island Public Library. We are always needing

more ideas on education for young people.

Serra Club: Thursday,

January 15, St. Leo’s

Church. Mass will be

celebrated by Fr. Tom Ryan

at 6:30 p.m., followed by a

short meeting and program.

Our program speaker will be

Sr. Clarice Korger, OSB. Our club supports, encourages

and promotes vocations to the priesthood and religious

life and is open to all adult Catholics from all four

churches in Grand Island, as well as Wood River, St.

Libory, St. Paul, Greeley and Spalding. Come join us!

CHI St. Francis Health Adult Volunteer Orientation:

Tuesday, January 13, 9:00 a.m.-Noon, Saint Francis

Medical Center, Room 7. This orientation is for adults

who are interested in volunteering at CHI St. Francis.

Please call the volunteer office at 398-5564, if you would

like to attend. We welcome your enthusiasm and willing-

ness to volunteer for your community!

Natural Family Planning: Saturday, January 17, 2:00

p.m., Room 11, Blessed Sacrament Church. This is for

engaged and married couples and helps you to either

space your children or to achieve a much-wanted

pregnancy. The first class fulfills a couple’s pre-marriage

requirement. Classes are also available online. For more

information, or to register, please call Mary Dey, NFPI

Teacher, at 384-8472.

Retrouvaille–A Lifeline for Marriage: Retrouvaille

helps couples through difficult times in their marriages. It

is designed to provide the tools to help get your marriage

back on track. It will give you the opportunity to

rediscover each other and examine your lives together in

a new and positive way. This program has helped tens of

thousands of couples experiencing marital difficulty at all

levels, including disillusionment and deep misery. For

confidential information about, or to register for, the

program weekend on February 20-22, 2015, please call 1-

888-317-5654 or go to www.HelpOurMarriage.com on

the web.

Growing & Cultivating a Stewardship Heart is a call

and invitation to the people of God in the Diocese to not

only learn about stewardship, but also to take leadership

opportunities and implement plans and visions for their

parish. All are welcome! Attend any of the scheduled

workshops. Choose the one that fits your schedule. There

is no charge for these workshops. Lunch is provided.

Saturday, January 17 – Alliance Deanery

8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Alliance Holy Rosary Church

Saturday, January 24, Kearney Deanery

8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

St. James Church, Kearney

Saturday, February 7 – Grand Island Deanery

8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

Blessed Sacrament Church, Grand Island

(Registration Forms can be found

in the Gathering Area.)

Saturday, February 21 – North Platte Deanery

8:30 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

St. Joseph Church, Broken Bow

To register online, please go to:

http://ministries.gidiocese.org/StewardshipRegistra-

tion.aspx

For more information or to register by phone, please

contact Michael Davis, Lay Ministry Office, 800-252-

9325.

Central Catholic News

Central Catholic Mass: Please join us at Central Catholic for Mass on Wednesday, January 21, at 8:10 a.m. Bishop William Dendinger will be presiding over the Mass and will be offering a special blessing for all of our generous donors during Mass. Immediately following the Mass, the Donor Wall by the new gym will be blessed. We are so thankful for all of our supporters and hope that you can join us for this special Mass and blessing.

Karnival Kapers: Sunday, April 19. Games, cake walk, bingo, dinner and more . . . all at Karnival Kapers! If you have a large item you would like on the big raffle ticket (value $200), please contact Peg Harders at 379-2802. We are also collecting for raffle baskets. You can donate a basket (value $100) or an item, and we will match it and make up a basket. Thank you for helping Karnival Kapers.

Calling All New Students: New Student Day is Tuesday, January 27. Pleae let us know if there are families you would like us to contact about attending GICC. We can mail them information, schedule a tour, etc. Please call the school office at 384-2440, or email Steve at steve.osborn@esu10.org. Tell your friends and lets invite a bunch of new Crusaders to our family!

Tuition Assistance Scholarships are available. Ten current GICC students will receive a $1,000 tuition assistance scholarship from the Kitty M. Perkins Foundation to be applied to this semester of the 2014-15 school year. Applications can be found on our webiste, at the front desk, or in the Foundation Office. Deadline: January 16, 2015.