PARISH STAFF & SUPPORT

Rev. Edward Stafford Pastor

Deacon Gerry Scopilliti Permanent Deacon

Margaret Haney Director of Religious Education

Bill Davies Music Minister

Lydia Kulesza Pianist

Kathi Trares Parish Secretary

Cindy Clark Business Office Manager

Cindy Olesh Ox Roast Fair Financial Secretary

(Volunteer)

Mary Ann Feddor Sacristan (Volunteer)

Dan Nuti Janitor

Greg D’Aurelio, John Kruis & Don Engelhart

Maintenance Ministry Crew Heads (Volunteers)

LITURGY SCHEDULE

SATURDAY 5:00 p.m. SUNDAY 9:00 a.m.

WEEKDAY 8:00 a.m. Tues.

HOLY DAYS & SPECIAL LITURGIES (please refer to bulletin)

RECONCILIATION (CONFESSION) Contact Fr. Ed. to arrange

(330-575-9105)

EUCHARISTIC ADORATION Cancelled until further notice

HOLY ROSARY Cancelled until further notice

Proud Home of the

Ox Roast Fair

ST. JOSEPH PARISH 11045 St. Joseph Blvd. , Mantua OH 44255

Parish Office 330-274-2253 / Fx 330-274-2254 PSR Office 330-274-2268

www.stjosephmantua.com www.facebook.com/stjosephmantua

Mission Church Established 1864 / Parish 1923

SEARCHING In Matthew’s Gospel today we see two extremely different perspectives, two different reasons for searching for Jesus. In some ways, this resembles the polarization of our nation in today’s time. What one group sees as good for the nation, those with opposing views think will wreck the country. The Magi were astrologers who saw a vision in the sky and were trying to find a way to follow it and discover the new king of the Jews. Herod heard about this king, and his reaction was dark and negative. He saw the birth of such a king as a threat to his power as the Roman leader of the country and wanted the Magi to pass on to him what they knew about this Christ child. Similarly, on a more personal level, we can either feel threatened or excited by changes that may come, depending on our perspective. © J. S. Paluch Co.

Due to early bulletin deadlines, 12/27, New Year’s & 1/3 collection figures will be in the 1/10 bulletin.

TIME, TALENT AND TREASURE It is each person’s responsibility to allocate his or her time properly to “have time to work, to rest, to play and to pray.” The way we choose to use our time indicates our progress in a life of Christian discipleship. “When we volunteer to help others by sharing our talents with them, we give them something of ourselves, an intimate sharing of ‘who we are’ for the good of others.” We are asked to care for and share “our treasure” for it is a gift from God, therefore “Giving money is good for the soul and because we need to return thanks to a loving God for all the many blessings each of us has received.” COLLECTION REMINDERS Help defray the cost of your envelope packets by using your Initial

Offering envelope provided in your January/February packet.

It is extremely helpful for accounting purposes to have separate donations for different funds since they are deposited separately (i.e. Sunday collection, 2nd Collections, St. Joseph Cares, etc.).

Simplify your life by signing up for our parish’s convenient and secure ParishSOFT Online Giving option (giving.parishsoft.com/app/giving/stjosephmantua).

We continue to build our fund for St. Joseph’s Paving Project. Simply designate Building & Grounds Maintenance using the green Special Contribution Envelope in your contribution packet, plain envelope, or through Online Giving. We’ll be giving progress updates throughout the next several months.

As always, thank you for your kind consideration and support.

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK Sun. 9:00 a.m. Mass ........ Carl Feddor Mon. No Liturgy Tues. 8:00 a.m. Mass ........ For Catholic Schools Wed. No Liturgy Thur. No Liturgy Fri. 8:00 a.m. Mass @ St. Ambrose Sat. 5:00 p.m. Mass ........ Brady/Veneziale Family Sun. 9:00 a.m. Mass ........ Linda Csenich

2021 CHURCH CALENDARS Our 2021 church calendars are now available thanks to Green’s Funeral Home. Pick them up in the Narthex or Parish Office (330-274-2253).

Mon: 1 Jn 3:22-4:6; Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a; Mt 4:12-17,23-25 Tues: 1 Jn 4:7-10; Ps 72:1-4,7-8; Mk 6:34-44 Wed: 1 Jn 4:11-18; Ps 72:1-2,10,12-13; Mk 6:45-52 Thur: 1 Jn 4:19-5:4; Ps 72: 1-2,14,15bc, 17; Lk 4:14-22a Fri: 1 Jn 5:5-13; Ps 147:12-15,19-20; Lk 5:12-16 Sat: 1 Jn 5:14-21; Ps 149:1-6a, 9b; Jn 3:22-30 To Prepare For Next Weekend’s Mass . . . Sun: Is 42:1-4,6-7 or Is 55:1-11; Ps 29:1-4,3,9-10 or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd-6; Acts 10:34-38 or 1 Jn 5:1-9; Mk 1:7-11

THIS WEEK’S READINGS

Visit us on the web at www.stjosephmantua.com

The Liturgy of Emmanuel The assembly has gathered from near and far, on foot, by bus, by car, by subway, singly and by twos and threes: single people, couples, families. Now that movement is ritualized and made visible in the liturgy’s entrance procession. We are not alone on this journey; Christ is with us. The procession is led by the cross, with the image of Christ upon it. Candles, signs of a living presence, are carried around the cross. Candles also accompany the Book of the Gospels, another sign of Emmanuel, God-with-us. The priest presider is likewise a sign of Christ’s presence in our assembly; he will act in persona Christi, in the person of Christ, who presides at every Eucharist. As the procession begins, we stand and sing together in our first act as a community. The joining of our voices begins to turn many into one. The songs we sing range from ancient chants to contemporary hymns, but they have the same purpose, to foster our unity and turn our thoughts to the mysteries we gather to celebrate. We may feel that we can’t sing well, but “Christ always invites us to enter into song, to rise above our own preoccupations, and to give our entire selves to the hymn of his Paschal Sacrifice” (USCCB, Sing to the Lord, 14).

—Corinna Laughlin, © J. S. Paluch Co.

FEAST OF FAITH

PRAYER INTENTIONS Let us pray for our sick and homebound. In particular, please remember in prayer:

Ken Boehnlein Ronnie Kasovich Kyle Painley Loretta Brugmann Tom & Pat Smith Nancy Richards Joyce Cavanaugh Russ Workman Madeline Kapote Marianne Baroni Michael Carlo Terry Kulka Cheryl Milroy Bob Fritz Ann Grega Marvin Litz Casey Rogalski Carol Ann Williams Cecelia Woicehovich Irene Welling Debbie Bukas

SISTERS OF NOTRE DAME PRAYER LINE 440-279-1163 OR sndchardon.org/prayer-request

EPIPHANY HOUSEHOLD BLESSINGEPIPHANY HOUSEHOLD BLESSINGEPIPHANY HOUSEHOLD BLESSING

Today we celebrate the Feast of Epiphany and remember the journey of the three wise men, Caspar, Melchior and Balthasar, who followed the star that showed all nations and peoples that Jesus was sent by God for all. Epiphany has become the day we traditionally bless our homes and families. We offer this blessing and encourage you to use it to bless your family and home.

Leader: In the (+) name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Let the Light of the World shine on this place! Legend gives these names to the Lord’s visitors: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. Their initials sign this doorway, along with four crosses and the numerals of the new year.

20 + C + M + B + 21

Let us pray: Christus mansionem benedicat. May Christ bless this house! May Christ bless us all, now and forever.

ALL: Amen!

Leader (or other Reader): A reading from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians: So, then, we should not lose heart in doing what is good, for if we do not grow weary, we shall receive our reward in due time. So then, let us do good for others while we may, especially to those who belong to the household of faith. The Word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God!

In each room of the house, the leader prays for God’s blessing and invites someone to sprinkle the room with holy water.

Living Room: Lord Jesus Christ, you are the Resurrection and the Life. Bless this room, we pray. ALL: Amen!

Kitchen: Lord Jesus Christ, you give us our daily bread. Bless this room, we pray. ALL: Amen!

Dining Room: Lord Jesus Christ, bring us to the feast of heaven. Bless this room, we pray. ALL: Amen!

Bedrooms: Lord Jesus Christ, stay with us when evening comes. Bless this room, we pray. ALL: Amen!

Bathroom: Lord Jesus Christ, you cleanse us with living waters. Bless this room, we pray. ALL: Amen!

All return to the front door to pray together. Leader: Let us pray as Jesus taught us: Our Father . . . Deliver us from evil. Amen.

All those present are sprinkled with holy water. Leader: Lord our God, we ask you to bless this household through all the days to come.

We praise you and thank you, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and forever. ALL: Amen!

Permission is granted to make multiple copies of this text. Copyright © 2018, World Library Publications, the music and liturgy division of J.S. Paluch Co., Inc. All rights reserved.

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GET YOUR TICKETS FOR 2021! For tickets or more info., please call or text Deb Kruis (330-221-0272) or Mary Ann Feddor (330-842-0505). If you provide your name, address, phone number and ticket # you'd like to purchase, arrangements can be made to pull those tickets for you and get them to you.

IDEAS HAVE CONSEQUENCES Look for Joe Daczko’s most recent article on Catholic365.com. Joe is a life-long St. Joseph parishioner and author of “Catholic Bushido: Transformational Virtue - The Way of the Catholic Warrior”. Visit https://www.catholic365.com/author/joseph-a-daczko/. LIVING OUT CHRISTMAS IN THE NEW YEAR How do we live out the message of Christmas in the New Year, rather than pack it away with the ornaments? Each year, the Octave Day of Christmas falls on the first day of the New Year, on which we also celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God. Her open heart and courageous “yes” to God show us how to live year-round—with hearts open to the Lord, following where He leads. We are called to place our trust in Him, to enter compassionately into the suffering of others, and to love one another as Christ loves us. Like Our Blessed Mother welcomed Jesus, we are called to cherish and protect the gift of human life, at every stage and in every circumstance. One way to live out the message of Christmas and follow Our Lady’s example is to join 9 Days for Life, a novena for the protection of human life, taking place Thur., Jan. 21 - Fri., Jan. 29. Each day's intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. Join today at 9daysforlife.com!

HAVE YOU LOGGED IN TO MY OWN CHURCH?

Our parish database portal is called My Own Church from which you may update your family information. Your g i v i n g h i s t o r y a n d contribution statement,

ministry schedule preferences, family members' sacrament details, pictorial directory, PSR registration are also among what’s available. All you need to do is visit https://stjosephmantua.com/my-own-church, where you can click the blue "Update Your Info" button and create an account. Then, church office staff will approve your account, and you’ll be able to update all of your family information, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. As the preferred option to receive your 2020 contribution statement beginning the end of January, setting up your account and log in is an important task to take care of this month. Helpful instructions and videos links are also available on our webpage. FYI—This database is different than the ParishSOFT Online Giving.

OFFERING YOUR GIFTS “They offered Him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Is God calling you to give the gold of your freedom, the incense of your prayer, and the myrrh of your love through a vocation to the priesthood or consecrated life? Contact Father Scott Kopp at 330-744-8451 or email: skopp@youngstowndiocese.org. THE GOSPEL OF LIFE “Through the Incarnation and birth of Christ, God reveals to us the dignity of all human life. Human life, as a gift of God, is sacred and inviolable. The Son of God has united himself with every human being and desires for us to share eternal life with him… Each of us is made in the image and likeness of God, and we reflect his glory in the world.”

USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities “The Gospel of Life: A Brief Summary”

PSR RESUMES SUNDAY, JANUARY 3RD You will notice a change in the schedule going forward. The 3rd through 5th grade group (group 2 on the original schedule) will be realigned. 3rd grade will be joining the 2nd grade class with Kathy Maretka and Jan Herman. 4th & 5th grade will be joining the 6th & 7th grade class with Joe Duriak.

JANUARY 3RD 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. PreK - 3rd grade in-person @ St. Joseph School PreK - 3rd grade parents in-person in All-Purpose Rm. 8th Grade Zoom 4th - 7th grade Home Study

MITTEN TREE COLLECTION BEGINS Bring your donations of mittens, scarves, and warm hats to St. Joseph School Hallway. All donations go to Catholic Charities in Ravenna.

JANUARY 10TH 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Zoom for all grades

JANUARY 17TH 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. 4th - 8th Grade in-person @ St. Joseph School 4th - 8th grade parents in-person in All Purpose Rm. 2nd Grade w/parents in-person @ St. Joseph School PreK, K, 1 & 3 Home Study

MITTEN TREE COLLECTION ENDS

JANUARY 19TH 6:30 p.m. First Reconciliation @ St. Joseph Church

JANUARY 24TH 1:00 p.m. Mass for PSR Families

JANUARY 30TH 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Confirmation Retreat

JANUARY 31ST 10:00 - 11:00 a.m. Home Study for all grades PSR UPDATES Please check your weekly e-mails for updates in the PSR schedule. The latest information on any schedule changes will be in the e-mails. We appreciate your flexibility as we navigate the demands of our fluid COVID health requirements. Here’s to a more straightforward year ahead!

QUESTIONS? Please contact Peg Haney (330-274-2268 or phaney@stjosephmantua.com)

or the Parish Office (330-274-2253)

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BISHOP BONNER’S ORDINATION & INSTALLATION On November 17, 2020, Pope Francis appointed Rev. David J. Bonnar the 6th Bishop of Youngstown. The Mass of Ordination and Installation will take place on Tuesday, January 12, at 2:00 p.m. at St. Columba Cathedral. Due to limitations imposed by the current pandemic, the number of invitations has been severely restricted. You are invited to watch the ceremony via live stream at https://doy.org/media/etclive-2/. A rebroadcast on ETC-Ecumenical Television Channel is scheduled on Thursday, January 14, at 12:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., 8:00 p.m. and on Saturday, January 16, at 12:30 a.m. To learn more about our new bishop, visit https://stjosephmantua.com/news-events.

Sun. 9:00 a.m. ................... Mass (Church) 10:00-11:00 a.m. ....... PSR PreK-3rd gr. +parents (Sch./APR) + Zoom Meetings/Home Study Mon. Tues. 8:00 a.m. .................... Mass (Church) 7:00 p.m. .................... Scouts BSA Mtgs. (Virtually) 7:00 p.m. .................... Remembrance Band Rehearsal (Rm. #9) Wed. Thur. Fri. 8:00 a.m. .................... Mass @ St. Ambrose Sat. 5:00 p.m. .................... Mass (Church) Sun. 9:00 a.m. ................... Mass (Church) 10:00-11:00 a.m. ....... PSR Zoom Meetings for all grades

~ For the Week of Jan. 3 -10~

PORTAGE COUNTY DIGITAL DOCTRINE PRESENTS “PANDEMIC STORIES”

VIA FACEBOOK LIVE

Dr. Rachel Constance, Associate Professor of History and Director of the Byers Institute for Community Health at Walsh University will be presenting Pandemic Stories. As a specialist in the history of medicine, particularly global pandemics, Dr. Constance will provide historical context for our current pandemic experience which has elevated civic engagement, challenged scientific and business communities, and strained the spirit of personal and community life.

Recently, Dr. Constance designed the Walsh University Pandemic Stories Oral History Project, a collaboration between the Byers Institute, the Renacci Center for Civic Engagement, the Food Design Institute, and the Walsh University Archives. The oral history project uses the collective memory of our individual experiences as a testament to our pandemic times to provide context and meaning for future generations. The presentation serves as an invitation to participate. Be ready with a story to tell.

Read more about the Walsh University Pandemic Stories Oral History Project at https://www.walsh.edu/pandemic-stories.html.

This Digital Doctrine presentation will be on Tuesday, January 12, at 7:00 p.m. You can view the presentation via Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/PortageCatholic or you can view it through Zoom. Contact Peg Haney for d e t a i l s a t 3 3 0 - 2 7 4 - 2 2 6 8 o r phaney@stjosephmantua.com.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS!

Next Digital Doctrine . . . Tuesday, February 9 @ 7:00 p.m.

More Details to Come!

CELEBRATING THE SEASON OF CHRISTMAS

After the yearly celebration of the paschal mystery, the church holds most sacred the memorial of Christ's birth and early manifestations. This is the purpose of the Christmas season which begins with a Vigil Mass on Christmas Eve and ends on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord.

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD (JAN. 2/3)

5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass @ St. Joseph 9:00 a.m. Mass @ St. Joseph

11:00 a.m. Mass @ St. Ambrose

FEAST OF THE BAPTISM OF THE LORD (JAN. 9/10)

5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass @ St. Joseph 9:00 a.m. Mass @ St. Joseph

11:00 a.m. Mass @ St. Ambrose

We come seeking Christ like the shepherds and with them glorify and praise God for the good news of Jesus’ birth.

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