The Holy Family of Jesus, Mary & Joseph December 27, 2015

Readings: Sir 3:2-6;12-14; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:41-52

The Deacon’s Speakin’

Dear friends,

Immediately following our celebration of Christmas, the church provides us

with a number of related celebrations helpful for strengthening family life:

December 26, the feast of St. Stephen, the first martyr; December 27, the feast

of St. John the Evangelist; December 28, the feast of the Holy Innocents, (since

these are weekday celebrations you may not be aware of them). All three of

these feasts remind us that following Christ has its demands, even to the point

of giving one’s life in order to remain faithful to Christian discipleship.

Naturally, family life has its demands, but none of these exceed our endurance

if we remember that God has given us the gift of His divine Son, who dwells

within each of us because of our baptism.

The church also celebrates this feast of the Holy Family. Although the gospel

passages about the Holy Family are scanty, we know that life wasn’t easy for

Jesus, Mary and Joseph. They model for us a family life not beyond our reach,

but one that is very real and built on caring for and loving each other – a life

built upon openness to God’s will, built on a reliance of God for guidance and

inspiration.

The familiarity of family life can sometimes blind us to see the goodness in each

other. This feast reminds us to open our eyes and be “astonished” at the

goodness of each other rather than being anxious about our own concerns.

Families grow in holiness when each person in the family, including anyone

who is extended the hospitality of the family, is treated as a member of God’s

family and, therefore, holy.

This is challenging when sometimes all we can see is each other’s faults. It takes

a great deal of sacrifice to get beyond the normal, everyday annoyances that

are part of family life, and see others as holy and deserving or our honor, love,

and respect. Mary and Joseph were not free from family struggles – after all,

they lost Jesus on a trip! And when they found Him they had to struggle to

understand who He was and who He was meant to become. In during so, they

were able to help Jesus (and themselves) grow in wisdom, age, and grace. In

this same love and care for each other, we also grow in holiness as a family.

Peace and Love,

Deacon John

Mission Statement Gifted by God, called by Christ and empowered by the Holy Spirit, St. Paul Catholic Newman Center is a parish committed to serving the academic community and all those who choose to be part of our parish

family.

Newman Center Young Adults Thank you to all young adults who have participated and volunteered to make all our gatherings and events possible this year. May this Christmas be a memorable one with friends & family! Merry Christmas!

High School Youth Group Confirmation class will resume January 3. Reminder to first year students to return retreat registration forms to the front desk.

Youth group will resume January 4th with an exciting treasure hunt!

Contact Cristina Martinez, Cristina@csufnewman.com.

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God The Octave (Eighth) Day of Christmas, January 1

st,is the

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. It is not observed as a Holy Day of Obligation in the Ecclesiastical Province of Los Angeles, which includes our diocese of Fresno. We will have a Vigil Mass for the Solemnity here at St. Paul’s at 6:00 p.m. on December 31

st. The Newman Center is closed on

January 1st

. Happy New Year!

Newman Center App Our new Newman Center app is now available to download for iPhone and Android smart phones. Stay connected with our parish throughout the week with instant notifications, an easy-to-access event calendar, and the ability to quickly reply to or share messages via Facebook or Twitter. Also enjoy a bunch of additional features like prayers, daily readings, helpful reminders to silence your phone before Mass or Confession, and much more.

Download our app today at myparishapp.com or search your phone's app store for myparish.

Mardi Gras - Save the Date Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez! Celebrate Mardi Gras 2016 with your friends at St. Paul Catholic Newman Center on Saturday, February 6 from 6:00pm to 11:00pm. The festivities will include dinner, a silent auction, and dancing. A wonderful dinner will be provided by Pardini’s. Tickets will go on sale in January for $50 each. Contact 436-3434 for further information. Let the Good Times Roll!!!

Our Lady of Victory Crab Feed The 8th Annual Msgr. Moreton Memorial Crab Feed sponsored by the OLV Alumni Association will be Saturday, January 30 at Holy Spirit’s Logan Hall.

$55 All you can eat crab dinner (crab, pasta and salad)

5:00pm No host bar

6:00pm Dinner

Festivities include a silent auction, live auction and sweet shoppe. This event sells out early! Get your tickets before January 8 and you will have a chance to win big!

Questions or to receive a registration form call David Castillo at 978-1703 or email olvcrabfeed@gmail.com.

Family Life Ministry Married Couples Retreat

Give your spouse the perfect Christmas gift of a Married Couple retreat experience. This year’s retreat is over Valentine’s weekend February 12-14 at St. Anthony Retreat Center in Three Rivers. The cost is $300 for the weekend. Theme: Learning to Love Like God Loves. Registration forms are at the front desk.

Men’s Morning Scripture Study Group meets Tuesday mornings at 7:30AM after morning Mass in the Community Room.

Meditation Opportunities

Christian Meditation meets Thursday mornings from 11:15AM to 12:15PM in CNH 104.

Facilitator: Benita Lankford

Evening Meditation meets Wednesday evenings from 7:00PM to 8:00PM in the Library.

Facilitator: Veena Kapoor

Tai Chi for Arthritis

Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Beginner’s class from 9:00AM to 10:00AM; Regular class from 10:15AM to 11:15AM. CNH 103. Instructor: Art Lopez.

Thursday Evening Tai Chi has two different class offerings: Tai Chi 24 Short Form from 5:30PM to 6:30PM; and Tai Chi Chuan 108 Long Form from 7:00PM to 8:00PM in CNH 102-103. Fee: $10/month.

Instructor: Bill Titus.

For more information contact John Prandini: 436-3434 ext. 107 prandinij@csufnewman.com

College Ministries

EMMAUS

We will not have Emmaus until we come back from winter break.

College & Young Adult Bible Study During Winter break we will not have Bible Study.

Weekend Contributions: Dec. 19-20

5:00pm $1,540

7:30am $2,485

9:00am $1,832

11:00am $1,767

7:00pm $1,754

Received by mail $510

Electronic Donations $2,100

Online Donations $182

Total Weekend Donations $12,170

Christmas Donations $385

Retired Religious $160

Prayers

+ Mass Intentions: Earleen VanderDussen, Luis Gomez Arceo,

Fe Burgos Almoro. Fr. Robert Goedert

+ Please pray for healing of our loved ones who are ill:

Margie Maloney, Joshua Araujo, Danielle Quiroga, Alex

Levario, William Barry, Evelyn Berman, Fr. Finian McGinn,

Cathy Martin, Ron Zucca, Vaness French, Stephanie Schwab,

Shirley Lea, Sue Noonkester (daughter of Alice Terhaar),

Luz Elower, Ollie Mae & Tom Godburn, Ernie Lee,

Kenny Smith, Horace Spann, Kyle Springer

Faith, Family & Friends

We wish you all a very Blessed and Holy Christmas

and a Happy New Year!!!

We will see you again on Tuesday, January 5, 2016 for

our first Faith Family & Friend’s gathering of 2016!!!

Pre-paid pizza orders for Tuesday, January 5 can be made at the front desk. Please have them in by

Monday, January 4.

Merry Christmas!!!

Sunday, December 27 Sir 3:2-6;12-14; Col 3:12-21; Lk 2:41-52 7:30am Mass for Luis Gomez Arceo Chapel

9:00am Mass for Fe Burgos Almoro Chapel

11:00am Mass Chapel

12:30pm Baptisms Chapel

7:00pm Mass Chapel

Monday, December 28 Jn 1:5 -2:2; Mt 2:13-18

7:00am Communion Service Chapel

Tuesday, December 29 Jn 2:3-11; Lk 2:22-35

7:00am Communion Service Chapel

7:30am Men’s Morning Scripture Study Community Room

9:00am Beginning Tai Chi for Arthritis CNH 102-103

10:15am Tai Chi for Arthritis CNH 102-103

Wednesday, December 30 Jn 2:12-17; Lk 2:36-40

7:00am Mass Chapel 6:00pm Scriptural Rosary Community Room

7:00pm Interfaith Meditation Library

Thursday, December 31 Jn 2:18-21; Jn 1:1-18

7:00am Mass Chapel

9:00am Beginning Tai Chi for Arthritis CNH 102-103

10:15am Tai Chi for Arthritis CNH 102-103

6:00pm Mass for Fr. Matt Tully O.F.M., CAP Chapel

Friday, January 1 Nm 6:22-27; Gal 4:4-7; Lk 2:16-21

Happy New Year - Office Closed

Saturday, January 2 Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3,5-6; Mt 2:1-12

7:30am Men’s Saturday Breakfast Group Cafeteria

10:00am Tai Chi - long form St. John XXIII

5:00pm Mass Chapel

Sunday, January 3 Is 60:1-6; Eph 3:2-3,5-6; Mt 2:1-12

7:30am Mass for Jeanette Frye Chapel

9:00am Mass Chapel

11:00am Mass Chapel

4:45pm High School Confirmation Class CNH

7:00pm Mass Chapel

Catholic Singles Join the Fresno Catholic Singles for their first general meeting and potluck of the New Year will be Thursday, January 7, 6:30pm in the Cafeteria at the Newman Center.

Call Rose Marie for more info 439-2601.

Pro-Life Essay Contest Right to Life of Central CA is having a Pro-Life Essay contest for students 12-16 years of age. Prizes are:

1st- $100, 2

nd - $50, 3

rd- $25 (Gift Cards); for contest

Guidelines and due date please call Right to Life at

229-2229 or visit

RightToLifeCA.org/pro-life-essay-contest.

Did you know...

Here at the Newman Center we have people trained to give emotional and spiritual support to those going through a difficult time in their life. Stephen Ministers are a friend who gives you a shoulder to lean on if you have lost a loved one, you or a loved one have a serious illness, going through marital or family difficulties or any other issue causing distress.

The only problem is we need more ministers. We are starting another training class on February 3 2016. The only prerequisite is a loving, compassionate heart. This ministry goes both ways, it provides many blessing for those receiving support as well as those giving it.

For more info Call Hazel 299-3279 or Paul 706-1677

Retrovaille Marriage Saving – the Weekend Phase – During the weekend phase of Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i) a series of presentations are given by a team of three couples and a priest. The team presents a technique of communication that enables you to take a good look at most areas of your relationship. After each presentation you have time in the privacy of your room to discuss the previous presentation. For confidential information about or to register for the February program in Bakersfield beginning with a weekend on February 12-14 call 661-747-2212

or email: Bakersfield@RetroCA.com or visit the us at HelpOurMarriage.com

Thank You The Children’s Movement wants to thank each of you for your generous giving to our Book Drive. To date we have been able to place a book in the young hands of 500 Head Start & CASA children. Please join the city-wide TMC group to put the children of Fresno County our top priority.