 Two weeks ago we celebrated the Solemnity of the Epiphany. The Church recalled the wise men coming from the East to worship the newborn King of the Jews. Jesus was made manifest at the Light of the World. Last week we celebrated the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. At the Jordan River Jesus was made manifest as the Beloved Son of the Father. Today, this Second Sunday in Ordinary Time, we hear proclaimed the changing of water into wine at the Wedding Feast of Cana. Jesus is made manifest as the Miracle Worker, the one in whom the disciples begin to place their faith. These three weeks are all “epiphanies” or “manifestations” of who Jesus is.
As we begin Ordinary Time (which only lasts a few weeks because Lent is so early this year), we are called to look into our own lives and see the many ways in which Jesus is made manifest to us. Is Jesus the Light that shatters the darkness of our lives? Is Jesus our Brother who accompanies us through life? Is Jesus the Miracle Worker who heals the pain and suffering of our broken lives? The answer, of course, is “Yes, He is!” But we can so often get caught up in the busy-ness of this life, the hectic pace of modern life, that we can miss Him. Stop, look around you, pray, find Him. He will flood your life with Light, walk with you as a Brother, and be the Healer that you need the most! Father Al
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 A special Diocesan collection for disaster relief will take place this weekend during all Masses.
The funds collected in this one-time special appeal for the 2015-2016 storms and other natural disasters will be used to support the efforts of Catholic Charities USA, the official domestic relief agency of the U.S. Catholic Church, as they and their member agencies respond to immediate emergency needs for food, water, shelter and medical care, as well as to the long term need to rebuild and recover after widespread destruction, and to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops for pastoral and reconstruction needs of the Church. Thank you in advance for your generosity. We would like to express our gratitude to this week's bulletin sponsor, John's Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning. Thank you for your continued support!   Save the Date!The Parish Nurse Ministry is hosting a presentation on organ & tissue donation. You are invited to learn about organ and tissue donation as well as the Catholic Church’s view on this topic. Light refreshments will be served.
Date: Sunday, March 20, 2016 Time: 2:00 PM Place: School Library Register online here or by calling the parish office at 533-7168. Our parish is blessed with many wonderful ministries. Among one of the "staples" is our amazing CCW. Here is a great testimonial to what happens when you accept the invitation to become more involved in our parish! The below post appeared on the SJA CCW Facebook page today:  Philomena Krosmico, CCW President A Letter from Philomena Krosmico: CCW Journey
I have been a member of St. Joan of Arc parish for over 34 years. For most of my time here at Hershey I always felt way too busy in my life to have time to support the church community. Short of attending mass and attending some events, I did not make time to volunteer and support the church. It is a trap many of us fall into. In 2010, my mother became ill with cancer and came here to Hershey, PA to live with me. She lived with me for three short years and I began to watch her with a different perspective. She really opened my eyes to embracing and prioritizing my spiritual journey. I was so fortunate to have her for these years, it truly changed my life. When she passed away three years ago, I yearned to continue to spiritually grow and share with others. The CCW president at the time, Kathy Hill, knew my mother had passed away, and encouraged my involvement. Our pastor at the time, Father Rothan, had supported my family during my mom’s last months. He also encouraged my involvement. The outreach and support from several church ministries was comforting. I began to get involved in the activities to give back to a church that was there for me. Since then, I have met so many wonderful, supportive women in CCW and the church community. I am constantly inspired by their giving hearts and perseverance for Christ. I am amazed what they can accomplish through Him. It is a strong community of women that comes together to support the church and grow in their spiritual journeys. What I realize is how much the church community can help nurture your personal growth. I am very honored, grateful and humbled to be president. Source: https://www.facebook.com/Council-of-Catholic-Women-in-Hershey-PA-1623390304587981/  We are currently looking for men to participate in an informal soccer game one night a week. Email John Wetherhold at for more information. Must be a registered Parishioner of St. Joan of Arc Church.
 We are more than a week into the new year and most likely back to the daily grind. Work, making meals, going to school, nursing a cold: the excitement of the holidays are over and the ordinariness of life begins once again. But that is a good thing! In many ways, it is in the ordinary times of our life that God is working. Being faithful to the people in our lives, doing the things we need to do to make this a better world, raising our kids to be good Christians is done without fanfare, without a whole lot of appreciation, and probably not with much sleep, but it is in these simple, ordinary times of life that we are slowly, but surely, becoming what God created us to be. If we try to determine growth in our spiritual lives, it is hard to do so looking at a day or week or even a month at a time. We have no perspective.
Rather, we must look back over the years and see, only in hindsight, that God truly has been working in our lives, transforming us into His creations. Ask yourself the question: have I changed over the past ten years? AmI more patient, less angry, more forgiving, kinder? If you can answer “yes” to those questions, then you have responded to the grace God is showering you with in your life. If the answer is “no”, there is always a new day to open yourself to the grace of God in your life. Jesus uses the parable of the seed in the ground to speak about the spiritual life. It takes a long time for that seed to bear fruit. The same is true in our lives. Let God nourish you each day with his grace, love and mercy and you will look back on your life and realize how much God was always there! Father Al We would like to express our gratitude to this week's bulletin sponsor, Hoover's Funeral Homes & Crematory. Thank you for your continued support!   The Feast of the Epiphany was this past Sunday, January 3rd. This is traditionally the time people will Epiphany House Blessing or chalking the door.
Typically a family gathers to ask God’s blessing on their home and on those who live in or visit the home. It is an invitation for Jesus to be a daily guest in our home, our comings and goings, our conversations, our work and play, our joys and sorrows. A traditional way of doing this is to use chalk to write above the home’s entrance, 20 + C + M + B + 16. The letters C, M, B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar. They also abbreviate the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless the house.” The “+” signs represent the cross and 2016 is the year. If you prefer not to use the traditional chalk, there are signs available in the back of the church or the parish office. You are most welcome to pick one up. Directions: Blessing the Chalk: V. Our help is the name of the Lord: R. The maker of heaven and earth. V. The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in: R. From this time forth for evermore. Let us pray: Loving God, bless this chalk which you have created, that it may be helpful to your people; and grant that through the invocation of your most Holy Name that we who use it in faith to write upon the door of our home the names of your holy ones Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in or visit our home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Offer the following prayer: Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen “Chalking the door” is a way to celebrate and literally mark the occasion of the Epiphany and God’s blessing of our lives and home. With time the chalk will fade. As it does we let the meaning of the symbols written sink into the depths of our heart and be manifest in our words and actions the Latin words, Christus mansionem benedictat, “May Christ bless the house.” Our Midnight Mass was recorded and made available on our YouTube Channel. There are some great shots of our beautiful church decorated for Christmas!!! |
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