Saint John the Evangelist-Saint Rocco Roman Catholic Parish

Rev. Kenneth J. Grande, Pastor Rev. Belen Gonzalez y Perez

Parish Office

250 21st Street Brooklyn, New York 11215 Phone: 718-768-3751 Fax: 718-768-4689

Website: www.stjohnstrocco-brooklyn.org

Office Hours

Monday - Tuesday - Wednesday 9:00am - 6:00pm

Thursday 12:00pm-6:00pm

Confessions/Confesiónes Saturdays 4:30pm - 5:00pm Sábado a las 4:30pm - 5:00pm

Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil Mass English 5:30 p.m. St. John the Evangelist

Sunday Masses English 8:45 a.m. St. John the Evangelist Spanish 10:00 a.m. St. John the Evangelist English 11:45 a.m. St. Rocco (27th Street, between 4th and 5th Avenues)

Mon.-Fri. Masses English 8:30 a.m. St. John the Evangelist

Friday Mass Spanish 7:30 p.m. St. John the Evangelist

No matter who you are, or where you are on

life’s journey, you are welcome here.

No importa quién eres, o donde está usted en

el viaje de la vida,

Mass Intentions The Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is the greatest and most perfect prayer we can offer because it is the prayer of Jesus Christ to the Father. The Mass is the most beautiful gift we can give to others. Masses may be offered not only for the deceased, but also for the sick, in thanksgiving for favors received, birth-days, anniversaries, and for any special intention you may have. The donation for each Mass is $15.00. Come to the parish office on 21

st Street to reserve your

Masses. Intenciones De Las Misas El Santo Sac-rificio de la Misa es la oración más grande y más perfecto que podemos ofrecer, porque es la oración de Jesucristo al Pa-dre. La Misa es el don más hermoso que podemos dar a los demás. Las Misas se pueden ofrecer no sólo por los difuntos, sino también por lose enfermos, en acción de gracias por los favores recibidos, cum-pleaños, aniversarios, y por cualquier in-tención especial. La donación por cada Misa es de $15.00. Pasar por la oficina de la parroquia (calle de 21

st) para reservar

sus Misas.

Please pray for the homebound, the elderly, those who are alone, and the sick: Liza & Lisette Ferreiro, Amanda La-ra, Ramon Gonzalez, Victoria Dubitsky, Joe Rutyna, Ana & Estela Polanco, Dolly DiBrienza, Jeanette DePinto, Genobeva Nieves, Esther Hernandez, Brigida Rios, Alexis Cadreau Nidia Lopez & Austin De-Palma, Reina Tapia, Lucille Toto, John To-to, Ever Marquez, Firouzeh Etebar, Angle & Dulcinia Ayala

Mass Intentions Saturday January 5 5:30pm Esther Torres Requested by Nefer Newman Sunday January 6 8:45am Joseph Sokoloski In Loving Memory by the Fitzgerald and Sokoloski Families

10:00am Los Miembros De La Parroquia 11:45am Members of the Parish Monday January 7 8:30pm Robert Yazzo Requested by James Yazzo Tuesday January 8 8:30am In prayer for Frank J. Grande, Sr. Wednesday January 9 8:30am In prayer for the Well Being of Jose Plaza Thursday January 10 8:30am In prayer for Juan Carlos Carril Friday January 11 8:30am In prayer for Marie Riccardi Requested by Katie Radacki 7:30pm Miembros de la Parroquia Saturday January 12 5:30pm Members of the Parish

Baptisms/Bautismos Please call the parish office for more information.

Por favor, llame la oficina de la Parroquia por más información.

Weddings: Scheduling of the ceremony is to be done at least 6 months in advance (and prior to all other ar-rangements being made). Please call the parish office to arrange an appointment. Please log on to www.precana.org for complete information about mar-riage preparation in the Diocese. Bodas: Favor fijar la fecha de la ceremonia en la Igle-sia por lo menos 6 meses antes de la boda (y antes de los otros arreglos). Llame a la rectoria para una cita. Favor de usar el Internet en www.precana.org para información completa para la preparación de matrimonio en la diócesis.

The Altar Candles will be lit this week in prayer for the well being of Jose Plaza. The Bread and Wine will be offered this week in prayer for the well being of Jose Plaza. The Sanctuary Lamp will remain lit this week in prayer for the well being of Jose Plaza.

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Prayer For An Increase In Vocations

The Epiphany of the Lord

"Behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying 'Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We

saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.'" How strange to journey so far for perhaps so

little. Of course the magi go to the capitol city. Of course they entreat with King Herod. Of course this is

where they expect newborn royalty to be. But where is the child? "In Bethle-

hem of Judea," the scribes say. And so the magi go on to what is yet another

Christmas miracle. We don't know where the magi met the Christ Child, but

it cannot have been lavish. Perhaps it was the stable. Perhaps it was a small

hovel Joseph had found to wait out the census. But it would have been the

home of a laborer, worn and threadbare. Here, in this unassuming abode, the

magi are still "overjoyed...they prostrated themselves and did him homage."

Have you ever gotten to the end of a great work and found the results to be

underwhelming? How did you respond? Were you disappointed or elated at God's providence and your

upended expectations? The magi journeyed hundreds of miles over treacherous terrain to pay homage to

royalty they have seen prophesied in the stars. They encountered an ordinary family displaced from their

home. This Sunday, the magi are an example for us. Can we see God in the unexpected? Do we encounter

Him in the person who doesn't fit our expectations of propriety? Do we revere Christ's presence in the

poor? Or do we expect to meet God only in places of honor and esteem? This week, ask God for the grace

to honor Him in the unexpected places and unassuming people. He is waiting for you!

La Epifanía del Señor

Que tu estrella, Señor, nos guíe y nos ilumine todos los días de nuestras vidas. Que Tu presencia nos sos-

tenga en la salud y en la enfermedad, en la alegría y en la tristeza, y que por medio de ella te manifiestes

ante cada circunstancia de la vida cotidiana. Hoy, la Liturgia celebra la Epifanía del Señor. Epifanía

quiere decir manifestación de una cosa. En este caso Jesús se manifiesta a

los Reyes Magos y por medio de ellos, al mundo entero. Los Magos le

adoraron y le ofrecieron regalos de oro, incienso y mirra. El Profeta Isaías lo

anuncia así: "Los pueblos se dirigen hacia la luz y los reyes, al resplandor de

tu aurora. Levanta los ojos a tu alrededor y contempla: todos se reúnen y vi-

enen a ti; tus hijos llegan de lejos y tus hijas son traídas en brazos" (Isaías

60, 4-4). La fiesta de los magos es una fiesta de Dios entre nosotros, aun es

Navidad - ¡no lo olvidemos! Dios invita a personas de diferentes razas y culturas a descubrir que Jesús

nos trae el regalo de la integración, no de la desunión. El Himno Litúrgico de este día nos invita a llenar-

nos de alegría y a orar todos juntos. "Reyes que vienen por ellas, no busquen estrellas ya, porque donde el

sol está no tienen luz las estrellas". ¿Cómo se ha manifestado Jesús en tu vida? ¿Qué le ofreces tú a

Jesús? ¿Qué estrellas buscas? La respuesta, ojalá, es una de compromiso y entrega generosa para los po-

bres, los inmigrantes los enfermos y los abandonados. Señor, manifiéstate hoy a mí, aquí, en esta Eu-

caristía. Escucha mis deseos y mis sueños...no tengo nada, solo un corazón para amarte.

Readings for the week of January 6, 2019

Sunday: Is 60:1-6/Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13/Eph 3:2-3a, 5-6/Mt 2:1-12

Monday: 1 Jn 3:22 -4:6/Ps 2:7bc-8, 10-12a/Mt 4:12-17, 23-25

Tuesday: 1 Jn 4:7-10/Ps 72:1-2, 3-4, 7-8/Mk 6:34-44

Wednesday: 1 Jn 4:11-18/Ps 72:1-2, 10, 12-13/Mk 6:45-52

Thursday: 1 Jn 4:19 - 5:4/Ps 72:1-2, 14 and 15, 17/Lk 4:14-22a

Friday: Jn 5:5-13/Ps 147:12-13, 14-15, 19-20/Lk 5:12-16

Saturday: 1 Jn 5:14-21/Ps 149:1-2, 3-4, 5 and 6a and 9b/Jn 3:22-30

Next Sunday: Is 40:1-5, 9-11/Ps 104:1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30/Ti 2:11-14; 3:4-7/Lk 3:15-16, 21-22

Sharing the Gospel

The Three Wise Men told Herod about a King being born. Herod was jealous. He did

not want another king to be more powerful than he. Herod told them to come back

and tell him where the baby was. They thought Herod was truly interested in Jesus.

After they gave him their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, an angel warned

them, "Go back a different way. Herod wants to kill the baby Jesus." Isn't God

amazing? He made all the stars and planets to move, so every night the sky looks a

little different. When God created the world, he planned exactly when the wise men

would see the star. He wanted them to find Jesus.

Prayer

Jesus, give me the power to help others, not harm them. Amen.

Something to Draw

Draw a picture of an angel telling the Three Wise Men

not to tell Herod where Jesus was.

Mission for the Week

This week do three favors to help someone in your family.

Religious Education Classes Registration

Registration for our parish 2018-2019 Religious Education Faith Formation Classes is now taking place in the parish office. Registration fee is $40.00 for the first child and $30.00 for each additional child of the same family. Please bring a copy of the child’s Baptismal Certificate and a copy of the Birth Certificate.

Registración para las clases de Educación Religiosa La inscripción para nuestras clases de Educación Religiosa, 2018-2019, para la Forma-ción de Fe, es teniendo lugar ahora en la oficina de nuestra parroquia. El costo de ins-cripción para un niño es de $ 40.00, y $30.00 por cada niño adicional de la misma fami-lia. Por favor traiga una copia del Certificado de Bautismo del niño y una copia del acta de nacimiento.

RCIA 2018—2019 If you know of someone who has not received First Communion or Confirmation, or maybe even some neighbors who talk about our parish and have never been baptized, why don’t you come to the rectory office during office hours and fill out the information for us. We will contact them to see if they are interested in coming closer to Christ in the sacraments of the church. Quizás tú conoces a alguien que necesita recibir sus sacramentos. Quizás tienes un ve-cino que habla de la iglesia y quisiera bautizarse. Quizás tú serás el misionero de Cristo. De la información en horas de oficina en la rectoría y les mandaremos un recuerdo para que conozcan también Cristo en los sacramentos!

Besides the Wise Men, what is significant about the Epiphany? Epiphany means "manifestation" or public display. The feast is usually celebrated January 6. In the US, it is cele-

brated on the Sunday nearest to January 6. It originates from a story unique to Matthew (2:1-12). Magi from the

East come to offer homage to the newborn King, presenting him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

This part of Matthew's infancy narrative differs from Luke's account of the birth of Jesus. In Luke there are no

Magi, star, nor gifts. Luke has Jesus being born in a stable after Mary and Joseph's long travel from Nazareth to

Bethlehem. Matthew seems to have the family living in a house in Bethlehem, where the Magi find them.

Why these differences? They stem from the needs and concerns of the audience the authors were addressing, as

well as the theological stance of each author. Knowing the original intention helps get at the correct interpretation

of the text.

Since Matthew was writing primarily to a Jewish community, his concern was to show that Jesus did not come just

for Jews, but for Gentiles as well. From his very birth, Jesus not only manifests himself to Jews, but also to Gen-

tiles who are prominently included in the manifestation, symbolized by the Magi and their journey. This is the

most significant aspect of the feast of Epiphany. How do you manifest Jesus to all with whom you come into con-

tact?