ST. GEORGE CATHOLIC CHURCH 19199 St. George’s Church Rd. Phone: 301-994-0607 Website: www.StGeorgeRCC.org Valley Lee, Maryland 20692 Fax: 301-994-1793 Email: secretary@stgeorgercc.org

WELCOME

Our parish family extends a warm welcome to all who are

joining us for worship, guidance or instruction. If you are new

to the area or coming home, we invite you to register and make

St. George Catholic Church your parish. Registration forms can

be obtained in the church vestibule, at the office or online.

PARISH STAFF Fr. Paul Nguyen, Pastor

Deacon Joel Carpenter, Parish Deacon

Mrs. Kimberley Browne, Minister of Religious Education

Mrs. Barbara Carpenter, Business Manager

Director of Liturgy and Music

Mrs. Divine Stachowski, Parish Secretary

Mr. Rico Romero, Facility Maintenance Supervisor

OFFICE HOURS

Closed on Mondays Tuesday & Thursday 10:00am-4:00pm Wednesday & Friday 10:00am-2:00pm

LITURGICAL SCHEDULE Weekday Masses: (all Masses limited to 39 households that reside together) Tuesday — Saturday: 9:00 am Weekend Masses: (all Masses limited to 39 households that reside together) Saturday — 5:00pm Sunday: 7:30am

10:00am 2:00pm (in Vietnamese)

St. Francis Xavier Mission Chapel (on St. George’s Island) Saturday – 7:00pm *Memorial Day - Labor Day

Holy Hour w/ Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament & Benediction: Tuesday – Friday: 5:00 pm Holy Day Masses — 9am & 7pm…or as announced

Established 1851

MISSION STATEMENT: The Gospel calls all people to holiness of life. Saint George Catholic Church is a family of faith, committing

ourselves as a welcoming Catholic community to worship God in Word and in Sacrament; to live and to share our

faith; to serve the poor, the vulnerable, and those in need; and to reconcile ourselves with God and one another.

The Epiphany of the Lord

http://www.stgeorgercc.org/

OFFICE OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION

Youth Faith Formation (YFF) meets in the Community Center 9:30-10:45 AM. Contact Kim Browne for class enrollment and for more information: (301) 994-0737 or email: kim.browne@stgeorgercc.org

RCIA (Preparation for Easter Sacraments)

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a process of inquiry and discernment for those who wish to come into full communion with the Catholic faith and are above the age of infant baptism. Classes are held Saturdays at 10-11:30am in the Community Center beginning in October and ending in May. For more information and registration, please contact Fr. Paul at the church office or email: fr.paulnguyen@stgeorgercc.com

REGIONAL CATHOLIC SCHOOL: LITTLE FLOWER SCHOOL (pre-K – 8th grades) For registration or information, please call LFS at (301) 994-0404 or visit us online www.littleflowercatholic.org

YOUTH MINISTRY

Youth Group meets on Sundays, 5:00-8:00PM in St. George Community Center. All teens grade 6 and up are invited and welcome to attend our weekly meeting. For more information, please contact the church office (301) 994-0607 or contact one of our Youth Group Team Leaders (Maddie Mushrush, Omotayo Ojo and Darren Rogers) at YouthGroup@stgeorgercc.org

SACRAMENTS

BAPTISM:

Arrangements must be made in advance with Deacon Joel Carpenter or Father Paul by at least one parent for children under the age of seven.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION/EUCHARIST:

Contact Mrs. Kimberley Browne for more information: kim.browne@stgeorgerrc.org

CONFIRMATION

Confirmation is celebrated in the Fall and requires a 2-year preparation in our Sunday Youth Faith Formation. Contact Mrs. Kimberley Browne for more information: kim.browne@stgeorgerrc.org

RECONCILIATION/CONFESSION:

Saturday 4:00-4:30PM, or by appointment (outside).

ANOINTING OF THE SICK & HOLY EUCHARIST: Parishioners unable to attend Mass on the weekends or who are ill are encouraged to call the parish office to receive these Sacraments.

MARRIAGE

Couples should contact the parish office and priest to make arrangements as soon as possible, at least 6 months in advance of the wedding. Pre-Cana Classes or Engagement Encounter (Marriage Prep.) is required.

DEVOTIONS

Holy Rosary: After Daily Masses & Sat. 4:30pm + Divine Mercy Chaplet: Fridays after Daily Mass

Eucharistic Adoration: Tuesday-Friday 5:00pm-6:00pm Saturday 9:30am-10:30am

We can no longer share books, pamphlets and resources. Please bring your own if you have them. If we make resources available, please take them with you or we will be forced to discard them.

WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS

Tue Jan. 5 9:00am Joseph Earl “Fuzzy” Knott

Wed Jan. 6 9:00am Phyllis Browne (L)

Thu Jan. 7 9:00am Laurenso Le Cong Bieu

Fri Jan. 8 9:00am Mary Anne Hammett

Sat Jan. 9 9:00am Peg Baliko (L)

5:00pm Laurenso Le Cong Bieu

Sun Jan. 10 7:30am Joe Browne

10:00am Joseph Earl “Fuzzy” Knott

2:00pm Laurenso Le Cong Bieu

WEEKDAY LITURGICAL MINISTERS

Daily Lector: J. Blackwell, B. Gallo, C. Galli, M. Goldsmith

Liturgical Feast Days

Mon, Jan 4 St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Religious

Tue, Jan. 5 St. John Neumann, Bishop

Wed, Jan. 6 St. André Bessette, Religious

Thu, Jan. 7 St. Raymond of Penyafort

mailto:YouthGroup@stgeorgercc.orgmailto:kim.browne@stgeorgerrc.orgmailto:kim.browne@stgeorgerrc.org

FL

STEWARDSHIP REFLECTION

IS 60:1-6; PS 72:1-2, 7-8, 10-11, 12-13; EPH 3:2-3a, 5-6; MT 2:1-12

Today, we celebrate the Epiphany of our Lord. "Epiphany" comes from the Greek word meaning

“to manifest” or “to make known.” In other words, today we celebrate the first manifestation or revelation of Jesus as the Son of God. Our readings

today remind us of God’s numerous manifestations in our lives and how we are called to share these manifestations with others.

The Gospel account of the three magi traveling to meet the newborn Baby Jesus bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh is one that we know well. Yet, when we pause to reflect on this passage and unpack the richness of that moment when these men met Christ for the first time, we recognize that there is much to be said for us still today.

As today's Gospel tells us, the magi traveled quite a

distance as they followed the star, and “on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage.” Clearly these men knew that they were in the presence of their King, for one prostrates himself out of reverence and submission. They also came bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, which

symbolize Christ’s kingship, divinity and humanity. These gifts make known to us Who Christ is — our Lord, our God and our Redeemer.

Christ is still manifesting Himself to us today. We

enter God’s house weekly. Upon entering His house, we are in His presence. Is meeting Christ our top priority each week? When we meet Him, do we give Him homage and show reverence knowing that He is our King? Do we offer Him our gifts — our time, talent and treasure? As Christian stewards, we are

called to respond to Christ’s manifestation in the Eucharist with love, reverence and gratitude.

And as Christ primarily manifests Himself in the Eucharist, He also manifests Himself in everyday moments — like a beautiful sunrise, a good conversation, a merciful spouse. He gifts us with

little manifestations throughout our days and we often miss them. In order to recognize Him, we need an attitude of gratitude — a key component of a stewardship way of life.

A faithful steward not only receives Christ gratefully, but also shares His goodness responsibly. St. Paul expresses this in our Second Reading in his letter to

the Ephesians, “the mystery was made known to me by revelation… the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body.” St. Paul is sharing the Good News that has been revealed to him with the Gentiles. As a Christian steward, we too are called to share what has been revealed to us. We are called to manifest Christ to others by the way we live our lives.

As we strive to become more faithful disciples of

Christ, let us prepare our hearts to receive Christ’s many manifestations in our lives, both big and small, and let us be Christ to others. In other words, let us look at every moment through the lens of gratitude, and share what we receive with one another. God gifts us with countless little epiphanies! We just need a grateful disposition to receive them.

REMEMBER IN OUR PRAYERS Please remember our parishioners who are sick, homebound and those in the nursing homes and hospitals, and all in need of our prayers, especially those who serve our country and their families, and all who are listed in our Parish Book of Intentions.

https://catholicsteward.us1.list-manage.com/track/click?u=7966b83159749778babff90a2&id=bffb858822&e=8e32e7f265

JANUARY 3, 2021 ST. GEORGE CATHOLIC CHURCH THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Sunday Masses: Saturday: 5 pm Sunday: 7:30 am Sunday: 10 am (Live-streamed to

YouTube, Communion available in parking lot.)

Sunday: 2 pm (In Vietnamese) Daily Masses: Tuesday – Saturday: 9 am Holy Hour (w/ Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Benediction): Tuesday – Friday: 5 pm 1st Friday, following daily Mass Saturdays, following daily Mass.

4 Things You Need to Know About Epiphany (article quoted from the National Catholic Register)

“On Jan. 6 (or in the United States, the first Sunday after Jan. 1) the Church celebrates the feast of “Epiphany.” This feast commemorates the mysterious visit of the magi to the Baby Jesus. Who were the magi? What led them to visit Jesus? And what lessons should we — and shouldn't we! — learn from this incident?

Here are [four] things you should know...

1. What does the word “Epiphany” mean? “Epiphany” means “manifestation.” It comes from Greek roots that mean "to show, to display" (phainein) and "on, to" (epi-). An epiphany is thus a time when something is shown, displayed, or manifested to an audience.

2. What is the feast of the Epiphany about? According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church: The Epiphany is the manifestation of Jesus as Messiah of

Israel, Son of God and Saviour of the world. the great feast of Epiphany celebrates the adoration of Jesus by the wise men (magi) from the East, together with his baptism in the Jordan and the wedding feast at Cana in Galilee. In the magi, representatives of the neighbouring pagan religions, the Gospel sees the first-fruits of the nations, who welcome the good news of salvation through the Incarnation. The magi's coming to Jerusalem in order to pay homage to the king of the Jews shows that they seek in Israel, in the messianic light of the star of David, the one who will be king of the nations. Their coming means that pagans can discover Jesus and worship him as Son of God and Saviour of the world only by turning towards the Jews and receiving from them the messianic promise as contained in the Old Testament. The Epiphany shows that “the full number of the nations” now takes its “place in the family of the patriarchs”, and acquires Israelitica dignitas (is made “worthy of the heritage of Israel”) [CCC 528].

3. When is Epiphany celebrated? This varies from country to country. In some countries, Epiphany is a holy day of obligation (Canon Can. 1246 §1). Where that is the case, it is celebrated on Jan. 6. In the United States, Epiphany is not a holy day of obligation, and its celebration is transferred to the first Sunday after Jan. 1.

4. Why is Epiphany connected with Jan. 6? Pope Benedict explains: It is hard to say how far back the beginnings of the Christmas feast go. It assumed its definitive form in the third century. At about the same time the feast of the Epiphany emerged in the East on January 6 and the feast of Christmas in the West on December 25. The two feasts had different emphases because of the different religious and cultural contexts in which they arose, but essentially their meaning was the same: the celebration of the birth of Christ as the dawning of the new light, the true sun, of history [The Spirit of the Liturgy, pp. 106-107)]. Eventually, however, the emphasis on Jan. 6 shifted — particularly in the west (and in some parts of the east) — to reflect manifestations of Christ beside that which occurred at his birth (namely, those that occurred at the coming of the magi, at his baptism, and at the wedding feast of Cana).”

For information, email kim.browne@stgeorgercc.org

STEWARDSHIP FINANCIAL REPORT

Offertory

Reconciled

Maintenance

Reconciled

Poor Box

Thanksgiving

Misc. Donations

Reconciled

ADW Priest Ret.

*E-Giving ---- **E-Giving will be reported after it is received by the parish,

typically the 2nd and 4th weeks of the month.

LITURGICAL NEWS

QUESTIONS OF FAITH

YOUTH FAITH FORMATION

Due to printing deadlines, the

financial report is unavailable.

mailto:kim.browne@stgeorgercc.org

JANUARY 3, 2021 ST. GEORGE CATHOLIC CHURCH THE EPIPHANY OF THE LORD

Quilts of Valor Meeting Pur parish is now a sponsor of the local group for Quilts of Valor, a National, non-profit foundation. Our local group is called Pax Sound of Freedom, serving the Southern Maryland community.

Our mission is to cover all service members with comforting and healing quilts, which are presented on a monthly basis. On the second Saturday of each month (except in December), we will be meeting in the church hall. We would like to extend an invitation to anyone who is interested in learning more about our group. If you are experienced in sewing, we could use your talents. If you are interested in learning how to sew, we can provide instructions and teach you how to make a quilt. We will provide fabric, and all the proper tools to use, including rotary cutters, cutting mats, irons, ironing boards, sewing machines and willing helpers to get you started and help you along the way. Our next meeting will be held in the Community Center on Saturday, January 9th, from 9:00am- 3:00pm. Please come and join us! Just drop by to see what we are doing. If you plan to stay for the whole day, bring a bag lunch to eat. Bring a friend or neighbor with you, or just come and make some new friends. Before you know it, you will have made a quilt of which you can be proud, and that one more service member will enjoy for the rest of his or her life.

51st Annual KoC Maryland State Council Car Raffle Knights from our own Fr. Sebastien de Rose Council 13091 will be selling tickets after each Sat & Sun Mass on the first weekend of the month only from October 2020 to March 2021. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5, cash or check only. The drawing will take place on Sunday, March 21, 2021

GRAND PRIZE: 2021 Ford Mustang (or $18,000 cash option) 2nd Prize: Apple iPad 3rd Prize: $200 Gift Card

Help Our Marriage Do you feel alone? Are you frustrated or angry with each other? Do you argue, or have you just stopped talking to each other? Does talking about it only make it worse? Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i) helps couples through difficult times in their marriages. This program has helped many couples experiencing difficulties in their marriage. For confidential information or to register for the upcoming program beginning with a weekend on January 29th - January 31st, 2021, please visit: www.HelpOurMarriage.org, call (443) 400-7017, or email: 3015@HelpOurMarriage.org

ADW YOUTH MINISTER NETWORK

The Office of Youth Ministry is hosting monthly online gatherings with youth ministers to develop a network of support and sharing of ideas and best practices. The gatherings are on the 4th Thursday of each month and offered during the day from 11:00-Noon and the evening from 6:30-7:30 to accommodate as many people as possible. If you would like more information or to register for these gatherings, please email phelpst@adw.org.

PARISH NEWS

KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS

LOCAL NEWS

FROM THE ARCHDIOCESE

https://retromd.us19.list-manage.com/track/click?u=8d3f5ee46b9f8f87e7d07a8eb&id=4a6a752da6&e=bf0270157cmailto:3015@HelpOurMarriage.orgmailto:phelpst@adw.org