MASS TIMES

Mon-Fri: 6:30 & 8:00 a.m. Saturdays: 8:00 a.m. & 4:30 p.m. Sundays: 6:30, 8, 9:30 & 11 a.m., 12:30 & 6 p.m. 1st Friday of the Month: Adoration & Noon Mass Confessions: Saturdays 3:30-4:15 pm & by appt.

1576 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, CA. 95125 www.saintchris.com

ST. CHRISTOPHER SCHOOL: 408-723-7223; www.stchris.us

Principal: Mrs. Corrine Buich Vice Principals: Sr. Kieran O’Connor, P.B.V.M; Mrs. Jutta Brassill and Mrs. Kathy Carter Business Manager: Mrs. Stephanie Houlihan Finance Manager: Divina Orogo Development Director: Teresa Behan

Parish Office Msgr. Allen Center 2278 Booksin Ave., San Jose, CA. 95125

Office Hours: M-F, 8:30am—noon, 1:00-4:00pm

Main Office: 408-269-25226, (fax) 408-269-2784 Pastor: Rev. Chr istopher Bennett Ext. 135

Parochial Vicars: Rev. Anthony Uytingco Ext. 130 And Rev. Chady Segovia Ext. 143

Deacon: Deacon Bruce Zorio, Ext. 137 Parish Secretaries: Gayle Blackford & Adrienne DiVittorio Business & Facility Manager Elaine Blocher, Ext. 136

Safe Environment: Nancy Jolliff Ext. 133

RCIA To become Catholic: 269-2226 Ext. 137

Parish Records: Sue Pershon Ext. 124

Pastoral Ministry: Loretta Pfaff, 408-264-5114 Ext. 131

Youth/Young Adult Ministry: Chris Miller - 408-395-7949

Catechetical Ministry: 264-8764 Director: Sr. Felicia Gross, O.S.F. Ext. 128 Rel. Ed. Assistant: Diane Forst Ext. 127 Elementary Sacrament Coordinator: Gina Park Ext. 126

Outreach Office: 269-2226 Ext. 132 Nancy Melander Pantry Hours: 4:00-5:30pm Tuesday & Wednesday Call for Saturday Hours

January 3, 2016 The Epiphany of the Lord

The parish office will be closed for Christmas starting Wednesday, December 23rd and re-open on Monday, January 4th. Have a safe and healthy holiday. We wish you and your family a blessed New Year.

A Jubilee Year of Mercy Pilgrimage to Poland & the Czech Republic

Including: Warsaw, Czestochowa, Krakow, Wadowice, Auschwitz, Brno & Prague

13 Days: October 5th to 17th, 2016 Under the Spiritual Direction of:

Most Rev. Patrick J. McGrath & Rev. Christopher Bennett

For more information Email: revbennett@sbcglobal.net or pick up a flyer in the Parish office or the back of the church

THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD January 3, 2016

Dear Parishioners, The story of the Magi is a story about the ways that God reveals himself and even more about the different responses which his revelation receives. The Magi represent the pagan world, all those whom one would have said were not particu-larly gifted with divine revelation. In the eyes of God's chosen people the pagans were "far away" from God. Yet here Mat-thew tells a story of how they were "brought near" by the light of Christ shining in the world.

A key part of the impact of this story is the way that these outsiders are guided by God. Revelation comes to them through their own fascination with the universe, with the signs they discern in nature. Revelation comes to them through the skill and expertise that they had developed in their study of the universe. Despite the secular character of the skill and exper-tise that began their search, Matthew's Magi are no mere astronaut mers (or for that matter astrologers) in search of an interesting new phenomenon. Their search is based on a sense of wonder which is fundamentally religious. This wonder is in fact the search after God and his presence in the world and it leaves them open to the revelation that is to come and that will move them to worship.

What can we learn from the Magi in relation to our own life-journey? In the first place, they were not wandering aimlessly: they were going in a definite direction with a specific purpose in mind. They may at times have had to alter course slightly because of some difficulty or other, but they kept moving steadily forward towards the aim they had in view: to worship the new-born king. Their following of the star makes us question our own direction in life. The star can be understood as representing the en-counter with God, which fills us with delight. Are we as intent as the wise men on following our star, being attentive to the deepest desire of our heart, which is the desire for God?

The teaching of the wise men is that we should look for that star which rises in our hearts, the star which fills us with de-light, and, when we find it, be prepared to follow it without hesitation. Like the wise men we will have many difficulties, not least of which will be those who tell us that our journey is pointless. We will also have to struggle with our own lack of cour-age or determination. Yet if we keep going forward, our eyes fixed on the star, we will at length arrive at the place of en-counter and be able, like them, to worship the new-born king.

The Magi are models for the faith community. We are called to be open to the signs of God's incarnation, we are called to go in search of a clearer vision of where those signs lead. We are called to offer ourselves with whatever gifts we have, in the worship of God incarnate. Where are we to find the signs of that presence of God today? It may be through a devel-oped sense of wonder at the universe in which we are placed. It may be in the love of another person. It may even be in the depths of our own being. To find this presence of God it may be that we don't have to travel any physical distance at all. It may be that we will find God unexpectedly near to us. The journey of the Magi involved travelling over many hundreds or even thousands of miles. Our journey to God may not require any physical travel at all but rather the long spiritual journey to our own depths where God dwells. Are you ready for the journey?

Fr. Christopher Bennett

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS (408) 264-8764

Religious Education Office Hours: Office hours- Mon.–Thurs. Closed Fridays

8:30-a.m.-Noon and 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m.

SATURDAY, JANUARY 2 4:30 Yvonne Pine, Harry Hamilton, Connie Mannina, Rick Lavoy (sp int)

SUNDAY, JANUARY 3 6:30 Yvonne Pine, Helen Boshell, Eva Moses 8:00 Yvonne Pine, Michael Giammona, Ippolito & Erminia Bozzo, Angelina & Tony Filice, 9:30 Yvonne Pine, Fadi Zikoor, Herta Catherine Markvardsen, Ed Buelna, For All Rel. Ed. Volunteers 11:00 Yvonne Pine, Tom Cunningham, Jaime Ramos, Sandi Modeson 12:30 Yvonne Pine 6:00 Yvonne Pine

Out of Town? FYI There is a web site, you can access when ever you are out of town and need a church for Mass, Go to www.masstimes.org and look up churches and Mass times, where ever you are. Check it out.

RCIA Adult Confirmation

Register Tuesdays of January 7:15-9pm at 2278 Booksin in the Marian Room with Deacon Bruce

Confirmation Our next session for confirmation will be on Thursday, January 7th in Walsh Hall from 7 until 8:30 pm. Students are asked to bring their work-books to each session. Please contact Chris Miller at cmiller@dsj.org or 408-395-7949 for additional information.

Youth Group The next youth group sessions will be Sunday, January 10th from 7-8:30pm in Walsh Hall. See www.saintchris.com for additional information, including the full schedule for the year.

Youth Ministry News: Chris Miller (408)-395-7949

cmiller@dsj.org or parish website www.saintchris.com—Select youth link

Attention Please Parents and Children! An exciting new children’s choir is being formed here at St. Christopher’s to sing at the 9:30am Mass once a month. Mark your calen-dar. The first Mass the choir will sing at, will be Sunday, January 17th at 9:30am. Rehearsal will take place before Mass at 8:15 in the Walsh Hall. A flyer will follow up soon with more information. If you have any questions, call Loretta in the Parish office at 408-264-5114 or email: Loretta.pfaff@stchrissj.org

IN REMEMBRANCE Let us pray for all who have died, that they may rejoice with the Risen Lord,

especially:

Jaime Ramos, Donald McAbee and Thomas Fitzgibbons

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PRO-GRAMS: The Sunday Religious Ed. pro-gram and Liturgy of the Word will resume next Sunday, January 10th. Tuesday Religious Education classes will resume on January 5th. LITURGY OF THE WORD PROGRAM: Liturgy of the Word is in session during the 9:30 a.m. Mass. It is open to all Kindergarten - 4th graders. JUNIOR HIGH REL. ED. PROGRAM: The Rel. Ed. Jr. High program will meet next Sunday, Jan. 10, 2016 from 4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m. in Walsh Hall. SACRAMENTAL 1ST EUCHARIST PRO-GRAM: The 1st Eucharist Family Mass will be next Sunday, Jan.10th at 9:30 a.m. in Hea-ly Hall. There is a 1st Eucharist Parent Meet-ing on Tuesday, Jan 12th at 7:00 p.m. At least one parent needs to attend.

PLEASE NOTE: There will be no

First Friday Adoration Mass

For January It will resume In February

ANNUAL MEMORIAL MASS A special Mass of Remembrance for all our loved ones who died in 2015, will be held on Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 7:00pm. If your loved one passed away in 2015, whether or not they were a parishioner here, you are invited to attend. If you would like them included in the photo presentation during Mass, please submit a photo of them as soon as possible. Include the name of the deceased, the name & address of the person the photo should be returned to. You may mail or drop off to Loretta Pfaff, Msgr. Allen Center 2278 Booksin Ave., SJ 95125 or by email to: loretta.pfaff@stchrissj.org. All parishioners, family and friends are invited to join in this special com-memoration of our deceased loved ones. There will be a light reception following the Mass sponsored by St. Christopher Grief Ministry. Questions, call Loretta, 264-5114.

St. Christopher Young Adults

WHEN: Sunday Afternoons, 1:30-3:00 pm (see below for exact dates)

WHERE: Walsh Hall @ St. Christopher Parish,

DETAILS: St. Christopher Young Adults are a group of parishioners ages 18 to 39, single and married, who are connected by our Catholic faith and who actively partici-pate in the life of the Church. Our mission is to “continue lifelong learning in a Catholic environment through spiritual growth, reflection, and service as we strengthen our relation with God though each other, our faith, and our community." The group strives to offer the following programmatic com-ponents on a rotating basis: faith sharing, social events, and service opportunities. Par ticipants are also encouraged to get involved with the liturgical ministries at the Parish.

Please join us on the following Sundays as we build communi-ty, break bread (lunch will be included), and deepen our faith and relationship with Jesus Christ:

Sunday, January 10 from 1:30 until 3 pm Sunday, January 24 from 1:30 until 3 pm

Sunday, February 21 from 1:30 until 3 pm

Please contact youth and young adult ministry coordinator Chris Miller at 408-395-7949 or cmiller@dsj.org.

We look forward to seeing you at an upcoming event!

Dear Parishioners,

As we begin a New Year, I would like to ex-tend a heartfelt Thank You to everyone who have made our Advent and Christmas cele-brations a wonderful experience for all who come to St. Christopher to worship. Your continued support of our ministry makes this Parish a very vibrant and faith-filled commu-nity.

I wish to thank all the ministers who put in so much precious time in helping create and cel-ebrate meaningful and beautiful ceremonies, such as: ushers, lectors, commentators, min-isters of communion, musicians, cantors and choirs, altar society and environment minis-ters, altar servers, the Liturgy Committee, and presiders.

Our sacred spaces in the Church and in Healy Hall during the Liturgies were truly magnifi-cent worship spaces that allowed us to gather as Community to herald the birth of the Child.

May this Child of Bethlehem, this Jesus of Nazareth, continue to bless us with His gifts of peace, hope, love and joy as we welcome the New Year that has just dawned upon.

A very grace-filled New Year to all.

Fr. Christopher Bennett Pastor

SUPPORT GROUP FOR THE SICK

We'd like to invite those who are sick and their fami-ly members to join us for a regular Support Group meeting at the Msgr. Allen Center every first Thurs-day of the month. For more information, please call Edith Smith at 408-839-1942. NEXT MEETING - Thursday, January 7th at 5:30-7:00 pm

Did you know that we have an Online Giving pro-gram here at St. Christopher Parish? Our Online Giving program allows you to donate using your VI-SA, Mastercard, or bank account. Donations can be made for the Sunday Offering as well as most Sec-ond Collections and the Parish Renewal Fund. Why use the Online Program? Because gifts are done electronically you will no longer need to worry about remembering to bring your envelopes to church. It also allows you to use VISA or Master-card so you will be able to earn your miles or other awards on your credit cards. You can access our secure site by using the link on our parish website at www.SaintChris.com. Thank you in advance for you support of our parish.

CHRISTMAS ALTAR & FLOWER FUND To share in decorating the altar for Christmas, you may donate to the Christmas Altar and Flower Fund in memory of a loved one or as a sign of raise and worship. Special envelopes are available in the vestibule of the

Church or you may use a plain envelope. Enclose the names of those you would like remembered with your donation and either drop in the collection bas-ket or at the Parish Office.

CHRISTMAS FLOWER OFFERING IN MEMORY OF:

Sarah Carolyn DeCarli, Don DeCarli, Steven DeCarli, Bernice DeCarli, Ed & Agnes Wallace, Mar-yAnn Wallace, Donald Wallace, Karen Wallace, Helen Blackford, Danny Blackford, Eva Hazen, Eleanor Agu-lara, Eleanor Alexander, Frank & Josephine DeMarlo,

Anita & Pedro Roa, Michael Hausler, Bud Cabral, Man-ael & Evelyn Perry, Marlene Williamson, Jean Taddie, William C. Rike, Martha Martin, Cheryl Moses, Allen

Orlando, Paul & Mary Sue Simon, Bill & Loretta Bunce, John & Lena Hickey, Jim & Vernon Hickey, Maurice &

Mary Hickey, David Muller, Margaret Spencer, Ann Parsons, Alexandrine Rankin, Decesed Members of the Levin and Harper Families, Maria Serio, Mobeck family loved ones, Otto & Wilma Sorensen, Eugene Olszewski,

William & Mabel Crank, Dean Olszewski, Jadwiga Dlugopolski, Richard Olszewski, Rosa P. Morrone, Jo-sephina Morano, Deceased members of Stone & Grego-

ry family, William Romito, Familia Reyes,Nicole, Damian, Affre, Doreen, Nandi, William & Shella

Sweeney, Marietje Ryke, Van Ho, William & Helen Percy, Charles & Lena Cisi and Rev.

Deacon Salvator Alvarez

Events

If you left a picture of your loved one in the church during the month of November for All Souls, you can pick it up in the parish of-fice, during office hours. Mon—Friday, 8:30am to 12:00pm and 1:00pm to 4:00pm.

Lord Jesus Christ, you have taught us to be merciful like the heavenly Father, and have told us

that whoever sees you sees Him. Show us your face and we will be saved.

Your loving gaze freed Zacchaeus and Matthew from being enslaved by mon-

ey; the adulteress and Magdalene from seeking hap-piness only in created things; made Peter weep after his betrayal, and assured Paradise to the repentant thief. Let us hear, as if addressed to each one of us, the words that you spoke to the Samaritan woman:

“If you knew the gift of God!”

You are the visible face of the invisible Father, of the God who manifests his power above all by for-

giveness and mercy: let the Church be your visible face in the world, its Lord risen and glorified. You willed that your ministers would also be clothed in

weakness in order that they may feel compassion for those in ignorance and error: let everyone who approaches them feel sought after, loved, and

forgiven by God.

Send your Spirit and consecrate every one of us with its anointing, so that the Jubilee of Mercy may be a year of grace from the Lord, and your Church, with renewed enthusiasm, may bring good news to the

poor, proclaim liberty to captives and the oppressed, and restore sight to the blind.

We ask this of you, Lord Jesus, through the intercession of Mary, Mother of Mercy; you who live

and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit for ever and ever.

Amen.

Vigil Location: Planned Parenthood 1691 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126

Vigil Hours: 7AM—7 PM every day Local Contact: Pat 408-497-7270

INFORMATION FOR REPORTING COMPLAINTS OR ALLEGATIONS OF

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT: DIOCESE OF SAN JOSE

THE OFFICE FOR THE PROTECTION OF CHILDREN AND VULNERABLE ADULTS

1150 North First Street, Suite 100 San Jose, CA 95112

Complaints or allegations of Sexual misconduct may be reported via:

PHONE: 408-983-0113 EMERGENCY HOTLINE: 408-983-0141

EMAIL: protection@djs.org FAX: 408-983-0147

The Christopher Ministry provides meals to parish-ioners during times of temporary crisis or hardship. If you or a fellow parishioner needs the help of the Christophers’, please contact the Ministry Chairper-sons. Also, please consider becoming a Christopher and helping provide this important and comforting service to members within the community. Thank you in advance for your support.

Caroline Begg Karen Warford (408) 267-7820 (408) 266-7441 fcgardhouse@yahoo.com karenvijil@yahoo.com

Attention Online Giving Donors: If you have donations posted to your credit card and you have been issued a new credit card by your bank for what ever reason, please be sure and log on to your Online Giving Profile and update your account information. You can access the Online Giving Site by using the link on our Parish Website, www.SaintChris.com. If you have any questions

Thank you for your continued support of our Parish.

Please Pray For Us

We continue to pray for all the men and women serving our country

in this time of war:

Alex Ngo, Tim McCullough, Joey Bellomo, Nick Badagliacco, Matthew Ward, Angelo

Totanes, Ciro LoBono, Tyler Hammerness, Branden Alwine, Greg Cook, Connor

McDonald, Christian Dietz, Connor Quinn, Adam Christopher Madewell, Richard Stayskal,

Larry Chartier, Andrew Morgan, Derek Carroll, Al-len Ellerbee, Obadihah Petteway, Eric Gentrup,

Michael Arnone, David Wells, Ryan Trapani, Rafi Miranda, Spencer Fishman, Ryan A. Johnson, Da-

vid Ryan, Benjamin Owens-Filice, Christopher Healy, and Christine Doudell

Loydene Kiley Rick Lovoy

Alec Giurlani Nina Ratulowski

Connie Himmelsbach Lois Nemeth

Shannon Flynn Vera Gutierrez Dorothy Mariles

Ed Dimsey Gregoria Poole Roberta Enright,

Dave Paul, Anthony Cardoza,

Lily Rabanal, Virginia Dalziel,

Carol Whelan, Valerie Shupp,

Michael Scullion, Lenore Luedeman,

Paul Russo, Marcus Espinoza,

Cornell Wade, Marty Rattay, Roy LeFevre,

Martha & Charles Gregersen,

Dave Oliverio, Margret Gaffaney,

Al & Jean Trznadel, and Lena Iaconis

Pray for the ill in our Parish

St. Christopher Catholic School invites you to ap-ply for the 2016-2017 school year. Applications for Kindergarten through 8th grade will be accept-ed from December 2nd through January 11th. Applications can be found online at www.schris.us or picked up at the school's office. Any questions please call Stephanie Houlihan at 408.723.7223 x0