St. Peter's Roman Catholic Church

This weekend, we will be accepting nominations for Parish Council before all Masses. Please come ready to nominate someone, or yourself, to the Parish Pastoral Council. We will be accepting nominations in front of the Church before all Masses.

Please see the Parish Pastoral Council Constitution for guidelines on nominations.

January 22, 2012 1973—2012 Over 50 Million babies aborted! As a nation we will be observing the tragic anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that has striped the ‘Right to Life’ from unborn babies. The Catholic Church’s members have continued to be a voice for the unborn. The Church is asking each of us to do Penance on Monday, January 23rd for the conversion of all who elect pro-choice legislators as well as any and all who support or encourage the unjust practice of Abortion. One heart at a time is how the battle will be fought. Join us in offering penance by prayer, fasting, and community outreach!

Father Ledoux and Father Janise along with a group of Parish Pastoral Council members have written a Parish Pastoral Council Constitution based upon guidelines from the Diocese for our parish. The newly written constitution was submitted and has been approved by Bishop Michael Jarrell, D.D. The new constitution is available for review on  the “Policies & Forms” page or in the parish office. Upon the appointment of a new pastor, the currently seated council may be reappointed or it may be dissolved and a new board formed within six months. Fr. Ledoux has chosen to reappoint the seated elected council members but applying the new constitution’s directives regarding terms. There is, therefore, one council member to be elected at this time for the Parish Pastoral Council. Nominations for this position on the council will be accepted on the weekend of January 28th and 29th; the election for this position will be held on the weekend of February 11th and 12th. The constitution requires that Parish Pastoral Council Members must meet the following criteria:

• Baptized and Confirmed Catholic
• Registered, supportive and active parishioner of St. Peter Parish
• Must be a participant in the ongoing life of the parish, especially Sunday Liturgy.
• If married, his/her marriage must be valid as determined by Canon Law.
• Canonically able to receive Holy Communion
• Committed to the giving of time, talent and/or treasure
• Minimum 18 year of age
• Of good moral conduct and reputation

Please be prepared on the weekend of January 28th and 29th to nominate individuals, or yourself if you desire, that you believe would serve St. Peter Parish well as a Parish Pastoral Council Member.

Parish Pastoral Council Constitiutuion

January 22, 2012 1973—2012 Over 50 Million babies aborted! As a nation we will be observing the tragic anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that has striped the ‘Right to Life’ from unborn babies. The Catholic Church’s members have continued to be a voice for the unborn. The Church is asking each of us to do Penance on Monday, January 23rd for the conversion of all who elect pro-choice legislators as well as any and all who support or encourage the unjust practice of Abortion. One heart at a time is how the battle will be fought. Join us in offering penance by prayer, fasting, and community outreach!

Prayer opportunities:

Sunday, Jan. 22nd (Day of Roe vs Wade decision) –Eucharistic Holy Hour with our youth at 7:15pm -8:15p.m.

Monday, Jan. 23rd (Day of Penance) – Mass at 6:30 a.m. followed by a Eucharistic Holy Hour at 7:00 a.m. Day of penance for violations to the dignity of the human person committed through acts of abortion, and of prayer for the full restoration of the legal guarantee of the right to life.

Monday, January 9, 2012 119. Closely connected with the salvific events of the Epiphany are the mysteries of the Baptism of the Lord and the manifestation of His glory at the marriage feast of Cana.

Christmastide closes with the Baptism of the Lord. Only in recent times has the feast been rehabilitated, and hence has not given rise to any particular displays of popular piety. However, the feast presents an excellent opportunity for the faithful to be reminded of their rebirth as children of God in Baptism. The rite of asperges could be opportunely used at all Masses on this day, and homilies could well concentrate on the symbols associatedwith Baptism. (Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy)

The day that we commemorate our Lord’s Baptism provides an opportunity for the entire family to discuss this sacrament. Children baptized as infants, of course, cannot remember their own baptisms, but they will love to be shown photographs of their Christenings and told of how this special day was celebrated. You may want to get out the baptismal gown or baptismal candle to give the children a visual reminder of their initiation into the Christian faith.

Behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying,“Where is the newborn king of the Jews?” Matthew 2:1-12 The identity and origin of the “magi from the east” is still debated by historians, theologians, anthropologists, and archaeologists. Most people would say that “There were three wise men.” St. Matthew does not say that there were three. Men around the world studied the culture, the writings, the religions and the historyof peoples other than their own. They believed in signs that told of great events. When the magi observed signs they believed told of a child descended from King David, born in Bethlehem, to be the Anointed One promised by God, they incurred the expense and endured the difficulty and perils of a long journey through hostile territory. They did not come to ask anything of the child. They brought gifts that signified His mission for all mankind and what He would suffer to fulfill that mission. Do we truly believe Jesus is the Anointed One? Do we act as if we believe? What are we willing to do, to give, to risk, to endure to act on that belief? Such are gifts we can offer to celebrate the Epiphany of Jesus.