Epiphany of Hope for the

 New Year

Today is the Solemnity of Epiphany, which means “manifestation” or “unveiling.” It is the day we celebrate the revealing of Christ who has come to bring something completely new into our world. The world was lost in darkness until that holy night. “Long lay the world in sin and error pining ‘till He appeared and the soul felt it’s worth. . . .  the weary world  rejoices for yonder breaks a new glorious morn” (Christmas Carol “O Holy Night”). God gave us the gift of something completely new: himself. The Wise Men came from the East because they knew that something completely new was  shining in our dark world. 

During this New Year 2024, we will be reading the entire Bible, and we will discover that it is a book (actually a collection of 73 books) that tells one great story about God’s gifts to us, culminating in the gift of HIMSELF. As we study “The Bible in a Year,” we will learn that the meaning of life is to respond appropriately to God for his generous gifts. 

We are grateful for the ancient treasures that he gave us in the past, and also for the completely new things that he gives to the church in every age. In our parish, we love the rich treasures of our ancient tradition, and we also love the new things that have been revealed in modern times by the popes, and by the modern saints and mystics. Jesus told us: “Every disciple of the Kingdom of Heaven is like a master of a house, who brings out of his treasure things new and old,” (Matthew 13:52). St. Paul tells us in today’s second reading that when we are given a gift, we become stewards of that gift. St. Paul knew that his stewardship meant that he had to share our treasures with the whole world: “You have heard of the stewardship of God's grace that was given to me for your benefit, namely, that the mystery was made known to me by revelation. . . . It was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed to his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit: that the Gentiles are coheirs, members of the same body, and copartners in the promise in Christ Jesus through the  gospel,” (Ephesians 3:2–6). We who are the Catholics of the 21st Century have been given treasures that were not given to the people of ages past. Therefore we are privileged because we can enjoy both the treasures of the past and also those that are new. 

This year is also the Jubilee Year 2025, a year which will be dedicated to  renewing our HOPE in God who gives us so many good gifts: “Hope does not  Disappoint!” (Romans 5:5).

Do we sometimes think that Jesus is given only to the highly qualified, special religious people? In the Gospel of Luke today we hear about the presentation of the Lord in the temple. The newborn son of God is passed around like a baton in a relay race, not guarded like a precious jewel or a breakable china dish. We can see him going from the arms of Mary to Joseph, then to the priest performing the ceremony, then to Simeon the old man, and then to Anna the old widow. Each one receives him and then hands him to the next. A tidal wave of joy and thanksgiving follows wherever he is placed. Believe me, you are qualified to hold Jesus in your arms. How can I say that with such confidence? Because the mother decides who is qualified. The Blessed Virgin, embodied in the Church, holds him out to you and me. She rejoices to place him in our arms to hold and to hand him on, too.

— Father John Muir

Many people are suffering from ailments of some form or another. Please join us as we pray for the sick, their families, and caregivers. ​

Aaron Ramirez

Alejandra Hernancez

Alex Mendoza

Angelina Munar 

Annabelle Dizon 

Ashraf Ghangosar

Barbara Gini

Bernarda Maldonado Camargo

Bob Weber 

Carlos Felipe Ruiz

Carlos Rodriguez

Carmen Parrish

Celine Hoban

Connie Heim

Connie Tracy

Dan Lucchesi

Debbie Brockney

Deborah Balisteri

Edith Contreras Ochoa

Elsa Valdez

Elvin Tyler

Enos Gomes

Evelyn Gesell

Gail Galela

Galdina Guzmán

George Reyes

Gilbert Ramirez

Gloria Fernandez 

Gloria Rangel Ortiz

Graciela Alegria Vargas

Guadalupe Deleon 

Jack Avery

Janet Kavanaugh

Jeanette Toloy

Joann Shannon

Jocelyn Gonzalez

Kenneth McKellar

Kim Bach

Lillian Martinez

Luz Maria Camarillo

María Guadalupe Barajas

Maria Ochoa

Maria Rivera

Marie Samson

Matt Johnston

Mayra A. Castillo

Michael A. Mallare

Michael James Miller

Mildred Quitoriano

Noemi Bourez

Paloma Ochoa

Paulette Vetter

Rachel Stafford

Roger Roman

Scott Johnson

Sheila Bacus

Star Cunanan

Susan Klass

Tammie Parrino

Terri Lomeli

Terry Cabauatan

Tomas Larios Ortiz

​To add or remove names, please contact the Communications Coordinator at comms@presentationchurch.net.

To see additional 'Prayers for the Sick', please click here. 

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2025

7:00 AM: Arzobispo Francisco Moreno Barron — health  

8:45 AM: † John Mendonca

10:30 AM: Lulu Menor and Family 

   — thanksgiving

12:15 PM: † George Chavez

2:15 PM: † Eloisa Solis Romero

5:00 PM: † Hilda Goyette

MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 2025

7:00 AM: Parish Families

TUESDAY, JANUARY  7, 2025

12:15 PM: Parish Families

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8, 2025

12:15 PM: Parish Families

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025

12:15 PM: Parish Families

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2025

7:00 AM: † Jeanette Cuthbert

12:15 PM: Alice Orosco

SATURDAY, JANUARY 11, 2025

8:00 AM: † Louis T. and †  Dolores F. Arbios

5:00 PM: Terra Nicole — birthday

In remembrance of those who have gone before us.

Shirley Spadafore

MaryLou Knisley

Alejandro Ramirez

Carmel Breakfield

Beverly Limbaugh

Marlene Neri

Marietta Quizana

Mel Pagala

Andrea Weesner

Olga Mendoza

Thelma Adams

Pushpamma Manda

Thelma Perdue

Ruth Segarini

Jose Salud Garcia Jasso

Norma Jean Luder

James R Fenelon

Vernon Franzi 

Henrietta Melinda Gietzen

Donna Mae Monaco

Estela Cortes

Salvador De Leon Samson

Marina Cueva

Nasser Y. Saleh

Myrna Garces

Fr. Joe Maghinay

Lolita Hilario

Benjamin Morelos

Nancy Bertilacchi

JoAnn Campigli

Romulo Gonzales

Antonio D. Alamo, Sr.

Pierce Lawrence (Chris) Brothers

Shirley Benecke

Arnold Arnulfo Rangel

Mario Gines

Yvonne G. Mariani

Frank Ramalho

Patricia Rut

Angelina R. Agpawa

Jack Jerome Vernon

Agnes Sombra

David Wagner

Ramon Espiritu

Marlo Eduardo Gesell, Jr.

Anne Marie Saiers Fowler

Christopher Thomas

Manuel J. Angel

Christofer Gores

Judith Gores

Mario Sepulveda

Armando Fernandez

Marilyn McLean

Gwen Lagesse

Ronald Ramirez

David Perez

Teresita Perez

Jeanette Cuthbert 

Loretta Castro

Genevieve Johnson

Rosalie Mello

John Mendonca 

Joann Phillips

 Maria Trinidad Espinosa Montiel

Jeremiah Bersola

Lorraine Coburn

Ben Munar Cables

David Rodahaffer

Helen Medina

Elvin Tyler

Norah Bennington

Bernice Nickols

We pray that we reflect God’s wisdom, pray to God and unite our sufferings with Jesus’ every day. 

Rezamos que reflejemos la sabiduría de Dios, oremos a Dios para unir cada día nuestros sufrimientos con los de Jesús. 

Even if one cannot sacramentally receive the Eucharist, everyone should be aware of the practice of making a spiritual communion. The following is a daily prayer for Spiritual Communion:

O my Jesus, I believe that You are in the Blessed Sacrament.

I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul.

Since I cannot at this moment receive you sacramentally,

come at least spiritually into my heart.

I embrace you as if you were already there and

unite myself wholly to you.

Never permit me to be separated from you.

Amen.

-St. Alphonsus Liguori

For more resources on Spiritual Communion, click here.

From the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB)

To view full readings, click here.

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5

Is 60:1–6/Eph 3:2–3a, 5–6/Mt 2:1–12

MONDAY, JANUARY 6

1 Jn 4:7–10/Mk 6:34–44

TUESDAY, JANUARY 7

1 Jn 4:7–10/Mk 6:34–44

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 8

1 Jn 4:11–18/Mk 6:45–52

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9

1 Jn 4:19–5:4/Lk 4:14–22a

FRIDAY, JANUARY 10

1 Jn 5:5–13/Lk 5:12–16

SATURDAY, JANUARY  11

1 Jn 5:14–21/Jn 3:22–30

NEXT SUNDAY, JANUARY 12

Is 40:1-5, 9–11//Ti 2:11–14; 3:4-7/

Lk 3:15–16, 21–22

“. . . They prostrated themselves and did him homage.  Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” –  Matthew 2:11

What gifts do you give to the Lord? Pope St. Gregory said that these three gifts represent what we should give God every day. Gold — we should reflect Christ’s wisdom in all our relationships. Frankincense —  represents our daily prayer and adoration to God. Myrrh — s a symbol of our daily sacrifices that we unite with Jesus for the sake of others.

“. . . y postrándose lo adoraron y abriendo sus tesoros le presentaron obsequios de oro, incienso y mirra.” – Mateo 2:11

¿Qué regalos le da usted al Señor? El santo papa Gregorio dijo que esos tres obsequios representan lo que deberíamos darle a Dios cada día. Oro — ya que debemos reflejar la sabiduría de Cristo en todas nuestras relaciones. Incienso — representa nuestras oraciones diarias y la adoración a Dios. Mirra — es un símbolo de nuestros sacrificios diarios en los que nos unimos con Jesús para el bien de los demás.

Sharing the Gospel

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

Dear God, thank you for making the planets and stars so the wise men could find Jesus. 

Something to Draw

Draw a picture of stars and planets shining the night sky.  

Mission for the Week

Visit a planetarium to learn more about the star of Bethlehem. 

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© 2008 LPi • PO Box 510817, New Berlin, WI 53151-0817 • 1-800-950-9952 x2469 • LPiResourceCenter.com 

SAINT CHARLES OF SEZZE | 1613–1670 | FEAST DAY: JANUARY 6

Saint Charles of Sezze was born Giancarlo Marchioni to a devout farming family of modest means in Sezze, about 40 miles south of Rome. As a young man, he helped with tasks on the farm, tending to the livestock and plowing. His parents hoped he would eventually study for the priesthood, but he was a poor student, so that avenue was closed. When he was 20, he fell seriously ill and made a vow to become a Franciscan if he recovered. He joined the Reformed Friars Minor at Nazzano in 1635; his parents continued to press him and his superiors to pursue ordination, but Charles knew his own capacities and was content with a life of humble service. Charles was assigned to a number of friaries in the Roman province, working at various jobs: porter, gardener, cook, quaestor (the friar who went out begging for alms), and sacristan. He also devoted himself to intense prayer and works of charity. In practical matters Charles often seemed to be awkward, a “disaster waiting to happen”: once, while cooking, he created a major fire in the friary. On the other hand, he developed a powerful spiritual insight into people and situations. Once, the guardian of a convent ordered Charles — who was the porter at the time — to give food only to traveling friars who came to the door. He did this in obedience, and alms to the friars decreased. He persuaded the guardian that the two facts were related. When the friars resumed helping all who requested assistance, offerings to the friars increased. Gradually, Charles’s reputation spread; he was sought out for advice by prominent families and high ecclesiastics, including three popes. Despite his lack of education, Charles began to put his insights into writing. Besides an extensive correspondence, he wrote a number of devotional works, described as “solid, spiritual, and seraphic.” Most famous was his spiritual autobiography, “The Grandeurs of the Mercies of God,” written at the command of his confessor. Charles died at the friary of San Francesco a Ripa in Rome on January 6, 1670. He was beatified in 1882 and canonized by Pope Saint John XXIII in 1959. 

SAN CARLOS DE SEZZE | 1613–1670

DIA FESTIVO: 6 DE ENERO 

San Carlos de Sezze nació como Giancarlo Marchioni en el seno de una devota familia de agricultores de modestos recursos en Sezze, a unas 40 millas al sur de Roma. De joven, ayudaba con las tareas del campo, cuidando el ganado y arando la tierra. Sus padres esperaban que eventualmente estudiara para el sacerdocio, pero era un estudiante mediocre, por lo que esa vía quedó cerrada. A los 20 años, enfermó gravemente y prometió convertirse en franciscano si se recuperaba. Se unió a los Frailes Menores Reformados en Nazzano en 1635; sus padres continuaron presionándolo a él y a sus superiores para que buscara la ordenación, pero Carlos conocía sus propias capacidades y estaba contento con una vida de servicio humilde. Carlos fue asignado a varios conventos de la provincia romana, desempeñando distintos trabajos: portero, jardinero, cocinero, cuestor (el fraile encargado de pedir limosna) y sacristán. También se dedicó a la oración intensa y a obras de caridad. En asuntos prácticos, Carlos a menudo parecía torpe, un “desastre a punto de ocurrir”: una vez, mientras cocinaba, provocó un gran incendio en el convento. Sin embargo, desarrolló una poderosa percepción espiritual sobre las personas y las situaciones. En una ocasión, el guardián de un convento ordenó a Carlos —que en ese momento era portero— que diera comida solo a los frailes viajeros que llegaran a la puerta. Él obedeció, y las limosnas a los frailes disminuyeron. Persuadió al guardián de que los dos hechos estaban relacionados. Cuando los frailes reanudaron la ayuda a todos los que solicitaban asistencia, las ofrendas aumentaron. Gradualmente, la reputación de Carlos se extendió; fue buscado para recibir consejos por familias prominentes y altos eclesiásticos, incluidos tres papas. A pesar de su falta de educación, Carlos comenzó a plasmar sus percepciones por escrito. Además de una extensa correspondencia, escribió varias obras devocionales, descritas como “sólidas, espirituales y seráficas.” La más famosa fue su autobiografía espiritual, “Las grandezas de las misericordias de Dios,” escrita por orden de su confesor.Carlos murió en el convento de San Francesco a Ripa en Roma el 6 de enero de 1670. Fue beatificado en 1882 y canonizado por el Papa San Juan XXIII en 1959.