Teresa Whalen Lux in her article for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time in The Living With Christ Magazine shares these thoughts for our meditation this week: 

      “What an amazing moment it must have been that day in the synagogue when Jesus announced, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Imagine the stunned looks on the people’s faces, their mouths hanging open in disbelief. Many were expecting the messiah to be a mighty king, a fierce leader who would restore the kingdom of Israel . But the boy next door? The one they remember playing with as children?

      And yet, who better to proclaim the good news of God’s reign than someone who is intimately familiar with the daily lives of God’s people? The message that Jesus came to proclaim is just that --- that God is near at hand, not far away and indifferent to our needs, but in our very midst, healing us and freeing us and loving us.

      Today you and I are part of God’s people. Through who we are and what we do, we need to show that God is present and at work in the world, even in all its brokenness. Through our caring and compassion, our listening and loving, we too proclaim the reality of God’s reign. As we celebrate this Eucharist, may we take to heart the challenging words of Teresa of Avila, “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands, no feet but yours.”

ALTAR SERVER APPEAL: Why not think about becoming a member of the Priest’s Team? I have talked to a number of boys and girls, young men and women, to join the ranks of the Priests Team around the altar. How much closer would you want to be to the most important facet of our faith life as Catholic Christians?? So far, 5 individuals have responded to the first invitation and for this I am most grateful. There are quite a few others who may have missed it the first time around—so here it is again!  PLEASE send an email to fryagesh@verizon.net with your name, address (both physical & email), phone number, name of school presently attending, and a convenient day of the week for rehearsal. This will be painless and most enjoyable—BUT I need “new recruits” ASAP. Don’t let the Lord down—He needs you now! I’ll be waiting to hear from you!

A giant THANK YOU goes out to the great folks at BRONIAK & KRAF NURSERY who so generously allowed us to use the three magnificent poinsettias that are in the sanctuary. At the kindly comment of a concerned parishioner, the altar seemed to be too stark and bare after having all the festive seasonal decorations removed. It was like going from one extreme to the other. These beautiful plants will make the transition into Ordinary Time a little easier as we slowly approach the Lenten Season, which calls for a barren atmosphere. Check them out before or after Mass … the blooms are so big, beautiful and huge that only a great God and the loving hands of those who care so gently for them can allow them to reflect God’s goodness to us. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!

The SECOND COLLECTION today is for the HAITIAN RELIEF effort after the deadly earthquake that took so many innocent lives. The situation on the ground seems to be getting worse as time goes on and critical needs are identified. As Jesus proclaimed in the Gospel today, we are called to reach out to all people in compassion to what they must endure. While we cannot jump on a plane and assist personally, the financial support of today’s second collection will help to ease the burdens of those called to rebuild their lives from ground zero! Thank you in advance for your unselfish generosity to this worthy cause.

Handicapped Door: Check out the new door hardware on the handicapped entrance/exit! That door continued to challenge those who used this door and posed significant difficulty in getting it open. However, now, it should be much easier to get in and out of the Church with little to no fuss. Please know that if something needs tending to, all a person has to do is mention it in a kindly way and before too much time passes, it gets done!! I appreciate your patience and good will for all!

Catholic School’s Week Open House will be held on January 31 from 1:00 until 4:00 in the school. Registration will continue for the Early Childhood Programs and all Elementary Levels until our limit has been reached. We support a class size between 15 and 20 per class. Scholarship opportunities through the BEF and SOS diocesan programs are available. Check the church bulletin boards for more information. Our website is www.holychildcatholic.org.

Holy Child “Amigos For Life” relay for life team is holding a scrapbooking day on Saturday, February 6 from 11 AM till 11 PM in the Holy Child Catholic School Cafeteria. Admission is $25.00 per person and includes 12 hours of scrapbooking fun, snacks, beverages and dinner. For more information or to reserve a spot, please contact Lori at 412-221-4215.

Protecting God’s Children: All persons including volunteers who work with children and youth in the parish MUST attend a training workshop and be willing to allow background checks. Our Lady of Grace, 310 Kane Blvd has a workshop scheduled for Saturday, January 30, 2010 at 9:30 AM and St. Joan of Arc, 6414 Montour St , Library has a workshop scheduled for Sunday, January 31 at 10:00 AM . To register for a session, or to search for sessions, go to www.virtus.org.

Thanks From St. Vincent De Paul: During 2009, Holy Child Parish donated over $9,000 to the St. Vincent de Paul Society through Fifth Sunday collections, bakes sales and memorials for two former members. We helped six families with rent or mortgage payments, 15 families with utilities, and many others with food, prescriptions, furniture, etc. Your generosity at our clothing drives and the Angel Tree are also appreciated. Thank you so much—we couldn’t have done it without you.

A Family Perspective (by Bud Ozar): The bondage of a stressful schedule and the time-devouring demands of multi-tasking can “blind” you to the needs of your loved ones. Jesus tells us in the gospel: “Today the scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” Perhaps you are “the captive who needs to be set free.” Come Lord Jesus, set us free!

Pray For…..Please remember in your prayers the sick, suffering, and housebound of our parish community, in particular: Donald & Sue Staley, Lou Dernosek, Lydia Pelino, Jacob Winlow, Dorothy McKeough, William & Mildred Brickner, Virginia Stankus Bob Sweeney, Susan Fischer, Eileen Belak, David Martin, Dino Trimble, Mariam Mollick, Bennett Huibregste, Jean McCaffrey, Veronica Ewing, Doris Camesi, Steven Page, Jack & Jane McCullough, Dorothy Medvid, Judy Trimmer, Jim Flannery, Patrick O’Brien, Lisa Cecere, Amanda Wyandt, Bethann Pelino, Celine Mullen, Greg Rosati, Mark Montagna, Steve Kobaso, Joan Knock, Pauline Medvid, Rosalie Wold, Evalyne Anderson, Amy Holeva, Bella Sullivan, Ted Krzywiecki, Earline Chappel Rose Emling, Michale Aiello, Blanche Notek and Louise Hiles. May God grant them His healing and strength.

Holy Child Catholic School Library Memorial: In memory of Mary Ritenour, requested by Ed Ritenour.

Sunday Contributions For January 17, 2010 :

Regular Collection                                        $11,043.00

St. Anthony Schools Collection                     $3,019.00

It can become very upsetting to the average parishioner for the Church to constantly have Her hand out with so many collections during a time when individuals are trying to recover from the holidays and the dent that had made on the wallet. Yet, the people of Holy Child continue to be generous. For this I am most grateful. The poor and the afflicted seem to be all around us, all of the time, both locally and in third world countries. Have faith that God will look kindly on all who have shared their time, talent and treasure consistently throughout their journey to His Kingdom! I cannot say it enough … THANK YOU for your ongoing support to this parish and the Church at large!!

Calendar of Events for Week of January 24, 2010 :

Sun., Jan. 24: 
Regular CCD Classes

Mon., Jan. 25: 
Regular CCD Classes

Tue., Jan. 26: 
Rosary, 7 PM , Church

      Scripture Study, 7 PM , Rectory

Wed., Jan. 27: 
SVdP Mtg, 7 PM , Rectory

Thur., Jan. 28: 
RCIA, 7 PM , Rectory

      PTG Business Mtg, 6 PM , School Gym

Sun., Jan. 31:
 Catholic Schools Week Begins

      All School Open House, 1-4 PM

      Regular CCD Classes

      KofC Officer Mtg, 6 PM , Rectory

            KofC Business Mtg, 7 PM , Rectory
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Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend: February 19-21 at the Toftress Resort, State College , PA. For more information or to register, contact at 412-635-7775 or check us out on the web at wwme-pittsburgh.org.

The Bridgeville Area Historical Society meeting on Sunday, January 24 at 1:30 PM in the Chartiers Room of Bridgeville Volunteer Fire Dept. Program speaker will be Gene Schaeffer, Author and his topic will be Montour Railroad History. All meetings are open to the public.

Got Talent? Then plan to perform at the Talent Show being held on Sat., March 6 at 7 PM in St. Paul Seminary’s O’Conner Hall. Acts are being recruited now, and both teens and adults are encouraged to perform. The show is sponsored by the local area (formerly Southwest Deanery) Youth Council and all proceeds will be donated to charity. To sign up your act or get more info please contact Steven Swank at 412-771-5483 or stmalachyyouth@yahoo.com.