MASS SCHEDULE
Weekdays:Monday - Friday: 7am Saturday: 9 am
Sunday
Saturday, 5pm Sunday, 10am
The Sunday 10am Mass is celebrated with people in attendance, as well as on Facebook.
Confessions
Saturday at 4pm or by appointment
Parish Office Hours
Monday—Thursday: 9am-1pm Friday: Closed
Parish Contact Information P: (401)751-0196
F: (401)273-2753 Web: stsebastianri.org
The voice of the LORD is over the waters, the LORD, over vast waters.
The voice of the LORD is mighty; the voice of the LORD is majestic.
Psalm 29:3-4
January 10, 2021 Weekly Bulletin The Baptism of the Lord
The Church of Saint Sebastian
67 Cole Ave., Providence, RI 02906
(401)751-0196
stsebastianri.org
PARISH DIRECTORY
and
INFORMATION
Directory
Reverend Father Jordan Kelly, O.P. Pastor
401-500-2462
pastor@stsebastianri.org Robert Short
Pastoral Associatefor Formation and Evangelization (401)751-0196 ext. 14 ssricgs@gmail.com Michael Sullivan Maintenance Megan Morrow Cantor
Mary - Katherine Fletcher Organist Kathy Harrington Parish Accountant finance@stsebastianri@org Susanna Carlino Financial Administrator Michael White Worship Editor Sarah M. Heaton
Bulletin and Graphic Design Editor
Parish Trustees
Charles Rogers Catherine Taylor
Parish Finance Council
James Daly Ann Carnevale Elisa Vele-Tabaddor Douglas Nani
Parish Council
Sarah Garcia-Mata Mary Hill Jamie Hill Janice Opalenski Toni Dumville Parish Auditors Ellen Boyle Jennifer Pizzuti
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 on 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 Mr. Bob Short at ssricgs@gmail.com Patricia Recupero Fred Reinhardt Karin Schrott Gerry Codola Catherine Denning Robert Lough
From
F R . J OR DA N , O P.
MY DEAR ONES,
May the Grace of Our Lord remain always with us!
Today’s liturgical celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord concludes the Church’s Christmas Season. The Christmas music concludes today, the Christmas decorations will be taken down tomorrow and throughout the week; and, the poinsettias, magnificent as they are, are yours to take home – first come, first serve.
I have found myself savoring these many days of Christmas! I love to come to Church, or go into my chapel, and gaze upon the Nativity Scene. Romantic that I am, I looked forward to each afternoon as I would come to Church, turn on the Christmas lights, and sit in our Church and behold the altar and its splendor, gaze at Our Lady and Saint Joseph in their new homes, and again look upon the Christ Child. One of the great gifts of these holy days has been seeing so many people coming to make a visit. One day, in the midst of the silence there was the sound of a cooing baby – perhaps two or three weeks old – his mother brought him before the Manger, and I thought I was looking at the reality of the Incarnation right before my eyes!!
Our celebrations were nothing short of perfection! The appearance of the Church, Megan and Patrick and their gift of music, and the “marvelous exchange” of Christ becoming incarnate for our sake – all magnificent moments of grace! At first my heart sank at the small attendance, and then I simply thanked God for all those who were there and hoped many of you were watching from home. Albeit, this was a vastly different Christmas, but still, it was Christmas, and it was so beautiful!
This difference led to some reflection. How do you celebrate the 7 Fishes with three people; how could it possibly be Christmas without family; how do we celebrate our customs – those events and practices that are just part of our culture?
Culture - - there is so much discussion about it today. Do we still have any culture? If we lost it,
how did we lose it? And, if we have lost our culture, how do we regain it?
Growing up in a very ethnic neighborhood in which every home sat in the shadow of our Parish Church, the Church was the foundation of our culture – our Catholic Culture. Throughout the Christmas Octave and in these days after the Epiphany I have reflected very much upon our “Catholic Culture”. I mentioned some points of this culture in my homily on Christmas Eve: the 7 Fish Dinner; the sharing of Oplatki (communion wafers) and the mandatory mushroom soup for so many Slavic and Polish peoples; “Babka” or Christmas Bread; keeping the tree and most of the decorations up until at least the Epiphany; the giving of gifts on Christmas Day and on Epiphany Day; and our celebration of the Epiphany on the 12th day of Christmas – January 6 – all of these and more formed our Christmas practices of our Catholic Culture.
All of these practices helped to reinforce that we are Catholics, and we live in a different way, by different ideas, and by different dreams. Josef Piper writes that “leisure is the basis of culture”;1 our Catholic Culture helped to provide that leisure even in the midst of business. Culture, the patterning of symbol to express a common meaning, leads us beyond the immediate, the impulsive and calls to meditate upon those dreams that form us into the people we are.
On Christmas Eve I preached about how Christmas gives us the path to a better future. I mentioned that dreams invite us to see what is and what could be. Dreams invite us to choose – perhaps much like Robert Frost and the “road less traveled that makes all the difference” how we will live. And dreams call us to ACT: how will we make our dreams a reality.
How ironic, as well as crushingly sad, were the events of Epiphany Day 2021! On the very day we
1 Josef Piper was a German Catholic philosopher and an
important figure in the resurgence of interest in the
thought of Thomas Aquinas in early-to-mid 20th
celebrate Christ manifested as the Savior of all people, making us one, our country had etched upon our eternal memory that we are a divided nation; that the separation between right and left is leading us in a perilous direction. Everything about Catholicism and Catholic Culture is about unity, the oneness of mind and heart that calls us to live in charity with one another, even when we disagreed. I am convinced that the more we regain every aspect of our Catholic Culture rather than bifurcated idea of culture offered to us by society, government, the media, and every other false prophet the happier we will become, and the many dreams we have for ourselves, our children, and our grandchildren, will become ever more a reality, and not a nebulous idea “light years away”.
Let’s dream about what a Catholic Culture can look like for us, here in 02906!
Merry Christmas; Blessed New Year; I love you! O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee!
In the Lord,
THE YEAR OF SAINT JOSEPH
With the Apostolic Letter With a Father’s Heart (Patris Corde) Pope Francis proclaimed the Year of Saint Joseph beginning on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, 8 December 2020, and lasting until 8 December 2021. The Letter marks the 150th anniversary of Blessed Pope Pius IX’s declaration of Saint Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church.
Pope Francis describes Saint Joseph as a beloved father, a tender and loving father, an obedient
father, and accepting father; a father who is creatively courageous, a working father, and a father in the shadows.
The Holy Father wrote With a Father’s Heart against the backdrop of the Covid – 19 pandemic, which, the Pope states, “has helped us see more clearly the importance of ‘ordinary people’ who, though far from the limelight, exercise patience and offer hope every day. In this they resemble Saint Joseph, ‘the man who goes unnoticed, a daily, discreet and hidden presence’, who nonetheless played an incomparable role in the history of salvation.”
Throughout this Year of Saint Joseph, we will have the opportunity to reflect upon the different attributes the Holy Father ascribes to Saint Joseph. A highlight of our Parish celebration of Saint Joseph will be a special Saint Joseph Day Mass, 19 March, at which Monsignor Montecalvo will be the homilist. I am delighted that Monsignor has accepted my invitation to join us for this great Feast! God willing, and Covid allowing, we will be able to have a simple “Saint Joseph’s Table” celebration following Mass. Stay tuned for more details!
SAINT JOSEPH, BROTHERS
’
ALL AND LET
US DREAM
With the publication of the encyclical Brothers’ All,
Let us Dream, and With A Father’s Heart, Pope Francis is showing us his extraordinarily pastoral heart, and his deep desire for society and all creation to live more harmoniously with one another.
In order to unearth the treasures found in the Pope’s writings, from the comfort of your home, join with Father Jordan and special guests as we discover what unites these recent papal publications.
Beginning on February 5th and ending on the Solemnity of Saint Joseph, Father Jordan and friends will present different thesis held in common between the three most recent writing by Pope Francis. Each session will be recorded at an earlier time, and then posted to the Parish Facebook page as well as the website.
J O I N
us
I N P R AY E R
MASS
Intentions
Masses are celebrated as follows:
Monday –Friday: 7am; Saturday: 9am
Confessions: 4pm Sunday Vigil Mass: 5pm
Sunday Mass: 10am The Sunday 10am Mass via the
Parish Facebook Page
The Church is open daily from 6:30am –5:30pm Come, rest, and pray!
SATURDAY, JANUARY 9–9am in Church
Christmas Weekday
9am:For the renewal of the Church
The Baptism of the Lord 4pm: Confessions
5pm: Anticipated Mass of the Baptism of the Lord + Evelyn Mastriano on her Birthday
SUNDAY, January 10 –Mass at 10am
The Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord
+ Angela Margiotta, and all the living and deceased members of Saint Sebastian
MONDAY, JANUARY 11 – 7am in Church
Weekday
+Fr. John Peterson, O.P.
TUESDAY, JANUARY 12 –7am in Church
Weekday
+ Adolf Schrott
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 13 –7am in Church
Weekday
+ Sr. Regina Foy, I.H.M.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 14 –7am in Church
Weekday
+ Raymond Lussier
FRIDAY, JANUARY 15 –7am in Church
Weekday
+Sister Peter Marian, I.H.M.
SATURDAY, JANUARY 16–9am in Church
Blessed Virgin Mary
9am:For the renewal of the Church
The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 4pm: Confessions
5pm: Anticipated Mass of the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
+ Antoinette Salamani
SUNDAY, January 17 –Mass at 10am
The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
+ Honorable Joseph F. Rodgers, Jr., and all the living and deceased members of Saint Sebastian
PARISH Prayer Requests
If you would like someone included in the Prayers for the Sick, please call the office at 401.751.0196. LET US PRAY FOR ALL WHO ARE ILL: all those who are dying because of the Virus; Dan Cheeley, the father of Mary Hill, Kevin Morrow, Fr. Dennis Carbonaro, Lilly Ardente, Jeffery Bates, Jean Barrette, Patricia Lauble, Dr. Vincent A. Armenio, Allen Walentukonis, Carmine Rao, Belle Calenda, Sister Mary Paul, Kathy McGinty – Radocaj, and all those for whom we have promised to pray: let us pray to the Lord.
LET US PRAY FOR OUR BELOVED DEAD: Fr. Chuck Leutte, O.P., all the members of our parish and families; those who have no one to pray for them; all COVID victims: let us pray to the Lord.
The Missionary Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe will be visiting various parishes throughout the Diocese of Providence from Thursday, January 7 through Sunday, January 31, 2021. The image will be at Saint Sebastian on Saturday, January 30th at 9am.
You can view the full schedule on our website.
In Loving Memory of Regina Duffy Radocaj
In Loving Memory of Richard Schantz
In Loving Memory of
Fr. Angelo Maraldo, OSFS
In Loving Memory of Thomas X. Gohl
In Loving Memory of Angelo J. Maraldo
In Loving Memory of Clarence Wroblewski
In Loving Memory of Robert and Anne Kelly
In Loving Memory of Jeannette Morrow
In Loving Memory of Concetta Recupero
In Loving Memory of
Margaret and Raymond Bertoncini
In Loving Memory of
Joseph and Evelyn Mastriano
In Loving Memory of May Mazzeo
In Loving Thanksgiving for the Marriage of
Madeleine Cook and David Glidden
In Loving Thanksgiving for the birth of
Annie and Luke
’
s Baby Boy
In Loving Memory of Michael J. Bonitati, Jr.
In Loving Memory of Eva Bonitati
In Loving Memory of
Mario H. Alvarez, M.D.
The Rollo and Bianchi Families
The Pizzuti and Dugan Families
In Thanksgiving for Patrick Aiken
The living and deceased members of the
Ardente and Ciccone Families
In Loving Memory of Robert Koshgarian
In Loving Memory of
Helen and Francis McCormick
The Daly Family, Living and Deceased
The DiBiasio and Rossi Families
In Loving Memory of
Joseph and Marie McNulty
Christmas Flowers 2020
We gratefully acknowledge your generosity allowing us to
worship in the beauty of holiness, and the holiness of beauty
In Loving Memory of all who have died from
COVID
For beloved Father Joseph Peek
In Loving Memory of
Joseph and Dorothy Kennedy
In Loving Memory of Joseph and Evelyn Polselli
In Loving Memory of
Donald and Olivia Stanford
In Loving Memory of Justine Vaughn
For Christy Byrne
In Loving Memory of Cornelia Apuzzo
In Loving Memory of
Anthony and Agnes Walentukonis
In Loving Memory of
Francis M. and Bettie J. Kelly
In Loving Memory of John Francis Kelly
In Loving Memory of
James C. and Mary E. Kelly
In Loving Memory of the Deceased Members of
the
Mellett and Decker Families
In Loving Memory of Joan Mellett
-
Decker
In Loving Memory of Katie A. Wenner
In Loving Memory of Mae Miller
In Loving Memory of Adolf Schrott
In Loving Memory of Ali and Tori Duzinski
In Loving Memory of Stanley Nadal
In Honor of the Christ Child
In Thanksgiving for graces received through
Our Lady of Perpetual Help
In Loving Memory of
Clement and Vincenza DeLucia
In Loving Memory of the Triplets:
Braden, Catilin, Cassidy Cassilio
In Loving Memory of Baby Isabella Maracondi
In Loving Memory of
Sister Rose Marie Masserano, O.P.
In Loving Memory of Sister Janet Marie, O.P.
In Loving Memory of Sister Mary Inez, O.P.
In Loving Memory of
Walter J. and Bette Lou Bartholomew
In thanksgiving for the life and ministry of
Msgr. Carlo Montecalvo
In thanksgiving for all Doctors and Nurses
In Loving Memory of Sharon Maria Wallace
In thanksgiving for the development of a COVID
Vaccine
The Recovery of Jeffrey Bates
The Recovery of Lilly Ardente
In Loving Memory of Peter Barrett
In Honor of the School Sisters
of St. Francis
In Loving Memory of
William and Rebecca Holt
The Living and Deceased Members of the
Cox Family
In Loving Memory of
Edward Michael Fogarty, Esq.
In Loving Memory of
Dr. and Mrs. Raymond F. Higgins
In Loving Memory of
Mr. and Mrs. Raymond H. Fogarty
In Loving Memory of Mr. Raymond W. Fogarty
In Loving Memory of Liam Gillespie
In Loving Memory of
Mr. and Mrs. Francis V. Fitzpatrick
In Loving Memory of Donna Conlin
In Loving Memory of Angela Margietta
In Loving Memory of Cynthia Lynch
In Loving Memory of Dr. Daniel J. Moore, Jr.
In Loving Memory of Josephine Maraldo
In Loving Memory of Dominick Pinto
In Loving Memory of Anthony Pinto
In Loving Memory of David Gale
In Loving Memory of Rosemary Munshower
In Thanksgiving for Sean, Logan, and Michaela
In Loving Memory of Thomas Corrigan, Sr.
In Loving Memory of Margaret
“
Peggy
”
Corrigan
In Loving Memory of John Connors
In Loving Memory of Barbara Daniels
In Loving Memory of Patricia Annarummo
In Loving Memory of Patricia Wardell
For the Health of Sandra Lucente
In Loving Memory of
Fr. Angelo D
’
Agostino, SJ. ,MD.
In Loving Memory of the
Schrott and Fiala Families
Christmas Flowers 2020
We gratefully acknowledge your generosity allowing us to
worship in the beauty of holiness, and the holiness of beauty
EPIPHANY WATER
On Wednesday evening January 6, the traditional celebration of the Lord’s Epiphany, Mike Kieloch, Bob Short, and Father Jordan met in Church for the Blessing of Epiphany Water. The Liturgy, Eastern Orthodox Theology, and the devotion of people in times past, teach us how Epiphany Water is a powerful weapon in warding off the devil.
While in the Roman Liturgical Celebrations of the Lord’s Epiphany, the primary focus was on the visit of the Magi, historically and in the Fathers’ of the Church, this Feast focused more on the baptism of Jesus Christ in the Jordan River. Because of this a special blessing of Epiphany Water was developed as well as the blessing of chalk to mark our homes. The emphasis of the blessing highlighted the symbolic nature of water as a cleansing agent. In this way, the blessing of Epiphany Water was used to cast out Satan and all the evil spirits that accompany him.
It is a powerful blessing, one that uses strong language to invoke the power of God over evil. It reminds us of the spiritual power of holy water and encourages us to use it in faith, trusting in the protecting help of God over our spiritual enemies. Here is an excerpt of the prayer:
In the name of our Lord Jesus + Christ and by Hos power, we cast you out every unclean spirit, every devilish power, every assault of the infernal adversary…… may you be brought low under God’s mighty hand. May you tremble and flee as we call upon the holy and awesome name of Jesus….
If you would like Epiphany Water to use at home, please bring a container to the sacristy and Father Jordan or Bob will be glad to give you some.
The blessing of the home with blessed chalk uses a prayer that asks God for good health and safety in the New Year. The prayer for the Blessing of Homes says in part:
Bless, + O Lord God Almighty, this home, that in it there may be health, purity, the strength of victory, humility, goodness, and mercy…. If you would like your home blessed, please contact Father Jordan.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR CHRISTMAS GIFT
TO SAINT SEBASTIAN!
Thank you for your sacrificial - generosity to the Parish at Christmas! Gifts are still coming in, but at last tally we have received over $20,000.00. An exact will be given to the Parish in the next few weeks.
TAX LETTERS
Tax letters are being mailed to all registered households. If you do not receive a tax letter, or your tax letter is incorrect, please contact Megan in the Parish Office on any Tuesday between 11am – 2pm. Given the state of the US Postal Service, please be patient in awaiting the arrival of your letter.
Stewardship: Equal Sacrifice; not Equal Gift.