BAPTISM OF THE LORD (YEAR C) - JANUARY 13, 2013

Saturday, January 12, 2013

Baptism of the Lord – Year C

5:30 pm  Novena to Our Lady

6:00 pm  Mass in English

First Reading
ISAIAH 40:1-5, 9-11

1  'Console my people, console them,' says your God.

2 'Speak to the heart of Jerusalem and cry to her that her period of service is ended, that her guilt has been atoned for, that, from the hand of Yahweh, she has received double punishment for all her sins.'
3 A voice cries, 'Prepare in the desert a way for Yahweh. Make a straight highway for our God across the wastelands.
4 Let every valley be filled in, every mountain and hill be levelled, every cliff become a plateau, every escarpment a plain;
5 then the glory of Yahweh will be revealed and all humanity will see it together, for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken.'
9 Go up on a high mountain, messenger of Zion. Shout as loud as you can, messenger of Jerusalem! Shout fearlessly, say to the towns of Judah, 'Here is your God.'
10 Here is Lord Yahweh coming with power, his arm maintains his authority, his reward is with him and his prize precedes him.
11 He is like a shepherd feeding his flock, gathering lambs in his arms, holding them against his breast and leading to their rest the mother ewes.

“The Word of the Lord”

PSALMS 104:1-4, 24-25, 27-30

1 Bless Yahweh, my soul, Yahweh, my God, how great you are! Clothed in majesty and splendour,

2 wearing the light as a robe! You stretch out the heavens like a tent,
3 build your palace on the waters above, making the clouds your chariot, gliding on the wings of the wind,
4 appointing the winds your messengers, flames of fire your servants.
24 How countless are your works, Yahweh, all of them made so wisely! The earth is full of your creatures.
25 Then there is the sea, with its vast expanses teeming with countless creatures, creatures both great and small;
27 They all depend upon you, to feed them when they need it.
28 You provide the food they gather, your open hand gives them their fill.
29 Turn away your face and they panic; take back their breath and they die and revert to dust.
30 Send out your breath and life begins; you renew the face of the earth.

Second Reading
TITUS 2:11-14 and 3:4-7

11 You see, God's grace has been revealed to save the whole human race;

12 it has taught us that we should give up everything contrary to true religion and all our worldly passions; we must be self-restrained and live upright and religious lives in this present world,
13 waiting in hope for the blessing which will come with the appearing of the glory of our great God and Saviour Christ Jesus.
14 He offered himself for us in order to ransom us from all our faults and to purify a people to be his very own and eager to do good.
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour for humanity were revealed,
5 it was not because of any upright actions we had done ourselves; it was for no reason except his own faithful love that he saved us, by means of the cleansing water of rebirth and renewal in the Holy Spirit
6 which he has so generously poured over us through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 so that, justified by his grace, we should become heirs in hope of eternal life.

“The Word of the Lord”

Gospel Reading
LUKE 3: 15-16, 21-22

15 A feeling of expectancy had grown among the people, who were beginning to wonder whether John might be the Christ,

16 so John declared before them all, 'I baptise you with water, but someone is coming, who is more powerful than me, and I am not fit to undo the strap of his sandals; he will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
21 Now it happened that when all the people had been baptised and while Jesus after his own baptism was at prayer, heaven opened
22 and the Holy Spirit descended on him in a physical form, like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, 'You are my Son; today have I fathered you.'

“The Gospel of the Lord”

Holy Father’s Prayer Intention

General: That during this “Year of Faith” Christians may deepen their knowledge of the mystery of Christ and joyfully bear witness to the gift of faith in Him.

Mission: That the Christian communities of the Middle East, which frequently suffer discrimination may receive the strength of fidelity and perseverance of the Holy Spirit.

 

St Joseph Church News

Parishioners are invited to bring in their old palms to be burnt in preparation for Ash Wednesday. Kindly bring them in by the last Sunday of January (27/1/2013)

Thank you for your cooperation.

For February, 2013 – Infant Baptism will be on 3rd February after the 8:00 am Mass and 11:00 am before the BM Mass.

As it is the practice of this Parish, parishioners are encourage to give offerings of oranges for distribution during the Chinese New Year. You may contribute in cash or kind.  Thank you for your generosity.

Parishioners who are musically talented, who can play either the piano or the organ or both are invited to come and offer your services to play these instruments for the Sunset Mass. Kindly see the parish priest or Catherine (the person in charge).

 

BEC REFLECTIONS – 23rd January 2013
Host:  Thomas Yong & Theresa Ng 
Venue: 6 Jln Jelatang 13, Tmn Megah Ria, 81750 Masai
Time:   8:00 pm

 

Marriage Preparation Weekends for Year 2013 – English
08th - 10th March, 2013            GSS, Melaka
21st – 23rd June, 2013             Majodi Centre
20th - 22nd September, 2013   GSS, Melaka
08th – 10th November, 2013     Majodi Centre
Please Contact: Feona Petrus at 016-722 2642

 

VATICAN COUNCIL DOCUMENTS
Rev PD Dr. Sherman will be giving a talk on Vatican Council Documents #1 on Sunday 23rd January 2013 at 2-4.30pm at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Johor Bahru.

 DEALING WITH ANGER

Fr. Norris Seenivasan, S.J. will be directing a weekend retreat “Dealing with Anger” starting from Friday, 1st February 2013 to Sunday 3rd February 2013 at St John Vianney Retreat House, Majodi. For inquiries please call Francis Soh at 012-754 0037.

Fr. Richard Anthonysamy, SJ will be directing the weekend retreat “To Remember, To Celebrate, To Believe” on January 25th – 27th 2013 at St John Vianney Retreat House, Majodi. For inquiries please call Francis Soh at 012-754 0037 or Julie Chong at 016-640 4588. Registration Forms are available at the Parish office.