The Church of Saint Sebastian 67 Cole Ave., Providence, RI 02906

(401)751-0196 stsebastianri.org

Mass Schedule

Sunday Masses Saturday: 5:00 pm Vigil Sunday: 9:00 am, 11:00 am Daily Mass M - F: 7 am Saturday: 9am

Confession Times

Saturday 4:00 pm - 4:45 pm or by appointment

Devotions Adoration of Blessed Sacrament Mon-Thurs. 6:30 am - 6:55 am

Rosary Mon– Fri. 6:40am

Novena to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Tuesdays following the 7:00 AM Mass

Parish Office Hours M-F: 10:00 am—2:30 PM

Parish Contact Information (410) 751-0196

February 2, 2020

Weekly Bulletin Feast of the Presentation of the Lord

Lift up, O gates, your lintels; reach up, you ancient portals,

that the king of glory may come in!

Psalm 24: 9

PARISH Directory and INFORMATION Directory Parish Information: P: (401)751-0196 F: (401)273-2753 Web: https://stsebastianri.org/ Reverend Father Jordan Kelly, O.P. Pastor 401-500-2462 pastor@stsebastianri.org Elaine Ginn Receptionist/Secretary office@stsebastianri.org Carole Graves Director of Music/Organist music@stsebastianri.org Megan Morrow Cantor Robert Short Director of Faith Formation and Evangelization 401-272-6062 ssricgs@gmail.com Kristen Gold Assistant Religious Education Coordinator 401-272-6062 ssriprimaryre@gmail.com Paul Castaldi Maintenance Kathy Harrington Parish Accountant finance@stsebastianri@org Parish Trustees Charles Rogers Catherine Taylor Parish Finance Council James Daly Ann Carnevale Grace Dugan Douglas Nani Parish Council Sarah Garcia-Mata Mary Hill Jamie Hill Janice Opalenski Patricia Recupero Ellen Reinhardt Fred Reinhardt

WELCOME to the CHURCH of SAINT SEBASTIAN In my own name and on behalf of the People of Saint Sebastian’s, welcome to our Parish! If you are visiting, coming back to the Church and Mass after some time away, or looking for a Parish, you are most welcome here at Saint Sebastian’s.

Parish Registration Registration is the official way we join a parish community, please stop in the Parish Office or register online to become a registered parishioner. To be considered an active registered member of the parish, members are asked to give of their time, talent and treasure. The parish is in need of and welcomes all three parts of your stewardship.

Sacrament of Baptism Congratulations of the birth of your child! We require all parents and godparents to attend Sacramental Preparation Classes. Once you have called the rectory to plan for the baptism of your child, we will have someone contact you to set up a special appointment for Preparation classes. These classes are usually done one on one with each family and are conducted by a couple who are well prepared to teach and assist in Baptismal Preparation.

Sacrament of Matrimony Congratulations on your engagement and decision to enter into a Catholic marriage! Saint Sebastian Parish will help you in your preparation to ensure that you make this serious and sacred step in your life a holy and happy one. The day and time of your wedding must be arranged in person by the prospective bride and groom themselves as soon as they feel called to marry. No arrangement can be made by phone or parents. All arrangements should be made nine months prior to the wedding date and done prior to scheduling the reception. The first meeting with the Pastor may be scheduled by calling the Parish Office at (401) 751-0196. Spiritual preparation is a key part of this special time. Frequent participation in the sacraments during this time is important, particularly weekly Mass attendance. It is also strongly recommended that you bring yourselves to the Sacrament of Reconciliation during this time of preparation.

Religious Education By their word and their example, parents are the first and principal teachers of their children concerning our Catholic Faith. The Religious Education of Saint Sebastian’s stands ready to assist parents in their sacred and most important responsibility. Should you have any questions about the program please contact Ms. Kristen Gold at ssriprimaryre@gmail.com or Mr. Bob Short at ssricgs@gmail.com

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Saint Sebastian’s also offers Level One, ages 3 - 6, of the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd, commonly referred to as CGS. CGS is a Montessori-based program of faith formation. Please contact Mr. Bob Short, Catechist, at ssricgs@gmail.com

Robert Whelan Amy Thomas Karin Schrott Gerry Codola Catherine Denning Toni Dumville Robert Lough

Parish Auditors Ellen Boyle

Jennifer Pizzuti

From FATHER JORDAN, O.P. , Pastor MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD, MAY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD REMAIN ALWAYS WITH US! The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord In the old calendar of the Church, today ended the Christmas Season. Today was formerly known as the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary: forty days after giving birth the women of Israel were brought to the Temple to be purified, which really meant to offer thanksgiving for the birth of their newborn child. While once considered a feast of Our Lady, since the earliest days of the Liturgical Renewal (circa 1929) Liturgical Theologians have taught us and shown us that today is truly a Feast of the Lord – when Christ was presented in the Temple and consecrated to His Father and the mission the Father has entrusted to Him. The greatest liturgical imagery of this Feast is light: today is the day on which we bless candles to be used in the Liturgy for the next year. Today is the day on which Simeon sings, “Now, Master, You have kept Your Word; with my own eyes I HAVE SEEN the salvation which you have prepared….: Candles light our path, and Simeon proclaims the Father’s faithfulness because Simeon sees the Word of the Father in the flesh: Jesus Christ our Lord! Liturgy and Life It pains me not to be with you today to celebrate this great Feast! If I were home, we would be blessing candles; there would be a procession during which the words of Simeon become our own, “Now, Master, you have kept Your Word; You let Your servant go in peace! With my own eyes I have seen the salvation You have prepared…” . To behold the glory of God – what we shall all see when we go to heaven! The Operative Phrase There are two great phrases from today’s Liturgy: A light to reveal You to the nations; and With my own eyes I have seen… light and seeing – what the optic nerve perceives. I offer you several “optic reflections” about our life together.

An Optic of Gratitude

This is the greatest “optic” before my eyes when I think

of our life together at Saint Sebastian: gratitude. Gratitude for our community which continues to establish unity amidst the irenic conversations of different points of view; gratitude for new parishioners and old; gratitude for a joyful, wonderful, fun Saint Sebastian Potluck; grateful for a Christmas Season that celebrates the hallmarks of joy, generosity, and welcome: joy for the birth of Christ; welcome for established parishioners and many guests; welcome that has brought us new families and generosity that allowed us to make our Christmas Collection Goal of $25,000.00. Indeed, an optic of gratitude.

An Optic of Continuity

The greatest optic about our community is marked by our three pillars: worship, learning, and service. We continue to grow in our liturgical life and our personal lives of prayer. Our Religious Education and Faith Formation efforts flourish through the great efforts of so many, and the desire of even more to grow in faith. And, our efforts of service continue as we do what is familiar and embark on new initiatives.

An Optic of Growth

Since January 2019 we have welcomed 52 new families to our Parish! We great gifts this new life is to our community! Have you met any new members? Do you see people sitting around you who you do not know? Introduce yourself to these people. New members tell me they are impressed by the sense of community they experience here – may we be faithful to their experience!

Participation in the Capital Campaign, as well as the Christmas Collection, helps us to support the growth we are being given by the Lord.

An optic of growth is evident in the growth of our newly constituted Parish Pastoral Council members and their work to develop a mission statement; find ways to help our income; and offer me sage advice about where the Pastor’s Optic is on the mark, or may need an adjusted or new prescription.

An Optic of Reality

While every optic listed above is true, there is also the necessary optic of reality. In a few weeks’ members of the Finance Council and the Trustees will offer a report

From FATHER JORDAN, O.P. , Pastor (Cont.) about our finances. Here is the truest optic there can be concerning our finances:

• Financially there is some improvement, but more is needed.

• As a community we are slow to respond to or accept a “culture of stewardship”. A culture of stewardship is not simply about money. A culture of stewardship is marked by the gifts of time, talent, and treasure by all of the parishioners. Approximately 33% of our parishioners support us by their treasure; and less that 20% support us by time and talent. We need to develop a culture of stewardship.

• When you receive the Financial Report of the Parish, you will see that this is a bare bones budget. To quote one of the trustees: “this is not a matter of expense, but of income. We no longer have parishioners who can ‘bail us out’, we need to find a way to encourage everyone’s help and increase our income.”

• Some of you have mentioned to me that there is an “optic of disconnect”, that I remark about our poor financial state, but our daily life looks fine, perhaps even grand; or that repairs continue while I talk about being in financial straits. No repair is made that does not have to be made, and made at once. Those repairs are depleting our financial reserves.

• What will happen to us if we do not develop this culture of stewardship? To answer this question honestly and bluntly: we will close. What worries me is the good will and generosity of 33% will be defeated by the lethargy of 47% of our members, we will have chosen closure by our lethargy.

An Optic of Hope The greatest hallmark of our optic, of the way we work for and perceive our Parish, must be one of HOPE! If we lose hope, the devil has won! ! Can we change the optic of difficult reality? OF COURSE WE CAN! But to change this optic requires hard work and sacrifice from all of us! How do you and I reach those who may be unaware or lukewarm about being part of our ministry. God has not given us the optics of gratitude, continuity, and growth to see His gifts squandered or fail: we must forge on in hope, sacrifice, and putting our hand to the plow. Saint Thomas will teaches us that a fruit of hope is

joy. The longer I am here, the happier, more joyful, I am to be here. Joy is the greatest way to invite new life and strengthen life that may be becoming flat. We are a joyful community – let us never hesitate to share our joy! May the words of Simeon be ours today, and for generations to come, “With our own eyes we have seen the salvation, the growth, the community, and the stewardship You have prepared…..” Until we meet at the altar…. O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee! In the Lord,

JOIN us IN PRAYER

MASS Intentions

SATURDAY, JANUARY 25 Blessed Virgin Mary on Saturday 9:00am: The victims of the Clergy Sexual Abuse and the healing and renewal of the Church Vigil of the Presentation of the Lord 4:00pm: Confessions 5:00pm: Robert L. Stevenson

The Blessed Mother’s Candle and Flowers are given in thanksgiving to God For the 95th Birthday of Adolf Schrott. May God continue to bless Adolf with good health and great

happiness! Moge Gott euch Gesundheit und

Noch viele Jahre geben! SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 2 THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

9:00am: Pro Populo

11:00am: The Intentions of Adolf Schrott on his 95th birthday.

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3 SAINT CATHERINE DE’ RICCI, O.P. 7:00am: + Sylvester Considine

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4 SAINT AGATHA VIRGIN AND MARTYR

7:00am: For those who live with or have died from breast cancer

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5 7:00am: +Sister Mary Eileen Berdis, O.S.F.

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6 7:00am: +Bertrand O’Connor, O.P.

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7 FIRST FRIDAY OF THE MONTH 7:00am: For all married people

4:30pm: Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament

5:00pm: Confessions

5:30pm: Mass – for all deceased parents

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8

9:00am: For the healing of the victims of clergy sexual abuse and the

renewal of the Church.

Vigil of the 5th Sunday in Ordinary Time

4:00pm: Confessions

5:00pm: Pro Populo

PARISH PRAYER Requests

If you would like someone included in the Prayers for the Sick, please call the office at 401.751.0196 .

We pray for: Patricia Maciel, Betty Young, Marie Brito, Peter Hurley, Laura, Margaret Pleasants, Dennis Roberts, Jim DeLucia, Raymond Capece, and all the sick of our families and parish

PLEASE PRAY FOR THE REPOSE of the

souls of all our recently deceased. We pray

for:

Fr. Edward Maurice Gaffney, O.P. and, our parish offers our deepest sympathy to Greg Sargeant upon the sudden death of his brother, Michael; and to Salvatore Annarummo upon the death of his beloved wife, Pat. Mat their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

CELEBRATING THE PATRONAL

FEAST OF SAINT SEBASTIAN

COMING up at SAINT SEBASTIAN THIS WEEK AT Saint Sebastian TODAY, FEBRUARY 2

9:00 No CLOW today

10:00 Religious Education for Grade 6

Children’s Choir Practice

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3

4:00: Religious Education, Grades 1 – 5

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4

7:00pm: Prayer Shawl Committee, Father Randall Room

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5

7:00pm: RICCO Rehearsal

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7

First Friday on the month:

7:00 am: Mass

4:30: Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament

5:00: Confession

5:30: First Friday Mass of the Sacred Heart

Fr. Jordan will be away from Tuesday, January 28 until Friday, February 7. Father will be on a silent retreat at Saint Dominic’s Monastery in Linden, VA.

In Father’s absence, Bob Short is in

charge. Any emergent needs or

questions that need to be answered are

to go to Bob. If necessary, Bob can

contact Father Jordan.

Dear Families of Saint Sebastian, The Children's choir resumes this weekend after the 9am mass. We will start promptly as there are some children who need to head off to other activities. Music for this season centers around 2 themes - Easter and celebrating God's Creations. In the coming weeks, I will send you Audio and PDFs of the music. This way, you can sing with them and help them review what they learn on Sundays. More info to Come!... This season we are preparing for the children to sing on Easter and, if they are ready, I would love to have them sing monthly in Feb and Mar, in preparation for the big Easter mass. So do bring your kids down to class every Sunday if you would like them to participate and sing regularly. It would be delightful if we could make that happen! Any questions? please feel free to reach out to Carole Graves at 401.406.1882

OUR DOORS are

OPEN for YOU!

AROUND the DIOCESE

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS TO HOST BLOOD

DRIVE

The East Providence Knights of Columbus, Council

1528, in cooperation with the Rhode Island Blood

Center, will host a blood drive on Sunday, Jan. 26,

from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., at the Columbus Club Hall,

3200 Pawtucket Ave. Each donation can save three

lives. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are

encouraged. Visit the Rhode Island Blood Center

website (www.ribc.org) or call (800) 283-8385 for

more information. Light refreshments will be

provided.

FREE INCOME TAX PREPARATION (VITA)

Amos House, a fully handicap-accessible

agency at 460 Pine Street in Providence,

prepares free income tax returns for those

who earned $56,000 or less in 2019. Wednesday,

Thursday and Friday evening appointments from 4:00

on may be made through April 15th by calling

401-272-0220. Amos House will also host Saturday walk

-in-only sessions from 10am-2pm on February 8th,

March 14th and April 11th. Other free tax sites in RI and

MA may be found by calling the number 211.

ST. PIUS V SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

St. Pius V School extends a warm welcome to all

families who are interested in joining our vibrant

community where children are formed in a Christ-

centered learning environment rooted in the Dominican

tradition of study, prayer, community, and service. Stop

by anytime between 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. on Sunday,

January 26 to take a tour of our school, to meet with

teachers, and to speak with our school principal, Sr.

Maria Francesca Wiley, O.P.

MASSES FOR RECOVERY

The next Mass for Recovery will be offered on Sunday,

Jan. 26, 5 p.m., in the chapel meeting room, under the

chapel, at St. Barnabas Church, 1697 E. Main Road.

These Masses, to which all are welcome, provide an

opportunity for people to come together in faith to seek

God’s loving kindness and grace with special prayer

intentions dedicated for those in recovery. If you or

loved ones struggle with alcohol, drugs, addictions,

mental distress, or support folks who suffer from the

effects of these issues, you are encouraged to attend. For

more information about this Mass, upcoming Masses, or

the work of the St. Matthias Ministry, please contact

Deacon John, deaconjohn@jsilvia.com.

DAVID MICHAEL MC CARTEN JANUARY 26, 2020