Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov [Public domain] | Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD

Excerpts from the Lectionary for Mass ©2001, 1998, 1970 CCD. The English translation of Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997,

International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

From the Pastor’s Desk

Church of the Immaculate Conception ∙ Columbia Heights JANUARY 19, 2020 2

Inside this Issue Parish News _________________ 3

Faith Formation ______________ 3

Prayer _____________________ 3

School News ________________ 3

Adoration __________________ 4

Bulletin Sponsor ______________ 4

Pastoral Ministry _____________ 4

Social Justice ________________ 4

Reflections __________________ 5

9 Days for Life ______________ 5

The Week Ahead ____________ 5

Masses and Intentions _________ 5

Church Directory _____________ 6

Collections __________________ 6

Gospel Meditation ___________ 6

Archdiocesan Synod __________ 6

Wedding Banns ______________ 6

Catholic Schools Week ________ 7

Sunday, January 19 2nd Sunday in Ordinary Time Is 49:3, 5-6/Ps 40:2, 4, 7-8, 8-9, 10 [8a, 9a]/1 Cor 1:1-3/Jn 1:29-34

Monday, January 20 St. Fabian, Pope and Martyr; St. Sebastian, Martyr; Martin Luther King Jr. Day 1 Sm 15:16-23/Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23 [23b]/Mk 2:18-22

Tuesday, January 21 St. Agnes, Virgin and Martyr 1 Sm 16:1-13/Ps 89:20, 21-22, 27-28 [21a]/Mk 2:23-28

Wednesday, January 22 Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children 1 Sm 17:32-33, 37, 40-51/Ps 144:1b, 2, 9-10 [1]/Mk 3:1-6

Thursday, January 23 St. Vincent, Deacon and Martyr; St. Marianne Cope, Virgin 1 Sm 18:6-9; 19:1-7/Ps 56:2-3, 9-10a, 10b-11, 12-13 [5b]/Mk 3:7-12

Friday, January 24 St. Francis de Sales, Bishop & Doctor of the Church 1 Sm 24:3-21/Ps 57:2, 3-4, 6 and 11 [2a]/Mk 3:13-19

Saturday, January 25 The Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle Acts 22:3-16 or Acts 9:1-22/Ps 117:1bc, 2 [Mk 16:15]/Mk 16:15-18

Sunday, January 26 3rd Sunday in Ordinary Time; Catholic Schools Week Is 8:23—9:3/Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14 [1a]/1 Cor 1:10-13, 17/Mt 4:12-23 or 4:12-17 ©LPi

This Week’s Readings and Observances

A Not So Ordinary Start to Ordinary Time Dear Friends in Christ—Greetings to you! I hope that you are well to-day. This last weekend we celebrated the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Liturgically, that celebration had the unique distinction of being the formal conclusion to the Christmas Season and the First Sunday of Ordinary Time. We are now celebrating the Second Sunday of Ordinary Time in Year A.

Usually we will be hearing from the Gospel according to St. Matthew on Sundays throughout this season. However, right out of the proverbial gates, we’ve got a bit of a change-up in that the Gospel for today comes from the First Chapter of the Gospel of St. John. It is a very appropriate passage in that we get a sense of St. John the Baptist’s perspective on the Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River. Since we heard that Gospel passage last weekend it is still relatively fresh within our minds and our hearts.

As we make our way through this Ordinary Time we pray that we who have been baptized would be filled with God’s extraordinary Grace to continue to proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom by our words and deeds. To conclude this bulletin article here are the final words of the Second Reading for Mass this Saturday evening and Sunday: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:3).

Peace in Christ Fr. James

View the bulletin online at ICCSonline.org SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 3

“Divine Mercy” Adult Formation series All are welcome to join us in Fellowship Hall (church basement) for 10 sessions featuring Fr. Michael Gaitley as he takes us through the

“dramatic history of God’s love and mercy as interwoven through the transformative message of St. Faustina, the miraculous appear-ance of Mary at Fatima, the witness of Maximillian Kolbe, and the world-changing papacy of Pope St. John Paul II.” Choose either the Monday sessions beginning February 3 at 7:00-8:30 pm (led by Mary Nawrocki) or the Thursday sessions beginning February 6 at 1:00-2:30 pm (led by Father James Peterson). Cost is $20. To register, please call Mary Scott at the Faith Formation office, 763-788-9062 x 208, or email mscott@immac-church.org.

Monthly Prayer Intention Please join the Intercessory Prayer Ministry in praying for this month’s prayer intention: That the Discipleship Committee be-come unified in hearing and understanding Jesus Christ’s call to go forth and make disciples in our parish and community.

Will You Pray for a Priest Each Day? Prayer Suggestion: Dear Jesus, hear my prayer on behalf of your priest, Father [N]. Give him a deep faith, a bright and firm hope, and a burning love which will ever increase in the course of his priestly life. Be his comfort, his joy, and his strength. Amen.

January 19 - Rev. Kyle Kowalszyk January 20 - Rev. Michael Krenik January 21 - Rev. Thomas Krenik January 22 - Rev. Ronald Kreul, OP January 23 - Rev. Paul Kubista January 24 - Rev. Michael Kueber January 25 - Rev. Joseph Kuharski

Prayer

Parish News

Faith Formation

Please Update Your Email Address We’re asking all Immaculate Conception parishioners to take a moment and ensure your email address is up to date with us. Hav-ing your current email on file allows Fr. James or other staff members to contact you directly, and each parishioner can select if you choose to receive large group announcements via email. As a part of the synod process we will be sending out an important message that we don’t want anyone to miss. Visit https://tinyurl.com/ICEmailUpdate and update your email address with Immaculate Conception today.

Pardon Our Dust Thanks to a generous donor (who would like to remain anonymous), we will be replacing the floor in the entry way to Fellowship Hall the week of January 27 – 31. Please pardon our dust and dis-ruption during the project. On Monday, Thursday, and Friday of that week there will be no access available to the lower level via elevator, and the restrooms will also be inaccessi-ble while the old floor is removed and the new floor is put in place. The stairs near the choir area and sacristy may be used throughout the week as necessary.

Parish-wide Survey Coming Soon Immaculate Conception will be participating in a parish survey as part of the Archdiocesan Synod Process. We need your reply to help make the information accurate and meaningful. The survey will be made available online from February 1 – March 1 and will ask you to reflect on your own spiritual growth and enable you to provide anonymous feedback on our parish’s efforts to help you grow. All responses will be confidential and the parish will only receive information about the community as whole. We’re trying to get the highest response rate possible for Archbishop Hebda, Fr. James, and our parish leadership as we plan for the future and strive to be the best disciples we can be. Results will be shared this spring. Thank you for spreading the word.

Dear Visitor We are glad to see you today! Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have any questions. Know that we are here for you and we welcome new members! For more information about ICC or to become a member contact Vicki at 763-788-9062 x 212.

Helping Offset Unexpected Expenses Recently there have been some questions about our Building Resto-ration Fund at Immaculate Concep-tion. This fund is designed to help keep the buildings (and mechanics within them) operating smoothly. The fund is different from the

Together in Faith Capital Campaign in that these expenses are less predictable and the need is both ever-changing and on-going. We do not, for example, have funds set aside to repair a leaky roof, replace an air conditioner or restripe the parking lot. These are expenses beyond providing spiritual support to the families of our parish and keeping the lights and heat on in the church. If every household contributed $150 per year to the Building and Restoration Fund, we would likely meet most of our needs. Please prayerfully con-sider supporting this fund in addition to your regular support of the parish.

IC Music Presents Join us Saturday, February 8 for “IC Music Presents: A Night in Las Vegas” dinner and variety show to benefit the IC Liturgy Ministry. After appetizers and a delicious buffet dinner of cham-pagne chicken, country style ribs, wild rice, salad, roasted vegeta-bles, and dessert, talented IC performers will entertain you with songs from Vegas headliners! Reserved seat tickets ($35.00) are available to purchase in in the parish office during the week. Buy a table of 8 in one transaction you’ll get 1 seat free!

Church of the Immaculate Conception ∙ Columbia Heights JANUARY 19, 2020 4

Thank Our Advertiser of the Week…

Catholic United Financial Jim Suek, FICF

Life Insurance • Annuities • IRAs • Scholarships

612-788-8051 • jsuek@catholicunited.org

This advertiser, and the others on the back of the bulletin, make this bulletin possible, please support them when you can.

Eucharistic Adoration

“We have come to know and to believe in the love God has for us.”

(1 John 4:16)

The love God as for us and the love of his Son Jesus, is what brings adorers to Eucharistic adoration. Jesus draws us to himself and through prayer we realize his love for us. Adoration gives us the opportunity during the week to come before our Lord and receive the love and peace only He can offer. Come and spend some time in our adoration chapel.

If you would like information about Eucharistic adoration or are interested in signing up for an hour, please call Sandy at 763-789-3246.

We are looking to fill the following vacant hours: Wednesdays at noon and 7:00 pm Thursdays at 11:00 am, 5:00 pm, 8:00 pm and 9:00 pm Fridays at 11:00 am, 3:00 pm and 5:00 pm

We also are in need of additional partner adorers and substitute adorers.

Fellowship Sunday Join us next Sunday, January 26 after the 8:00 and 10:00 am Masses for fellowship, donuts, oatmeal and beverages in the school cafeteria. Hosted by the School Advisory Council. Plan to visit the Book Sale while you are there!

Anointing Mass Join us on Thursday, February 13, 2020 at 3:15 pm for an Anoint-ing Mass at Crest View on 42nd (corner of Central and 42nd Ave-nues). Rev. James Peterson will preside. All are welcome.

Individual Anointing of the Sick is available by request—call the parish office at 763-788-9062 x 212.

Pastoral Ministry Visitors Meeting Tuesday, January 14 at 2:00 pm in the St. Francis Room.

In Need of Prayer? Please Call Us. To add a name to the weekend Mass petitions or the bulletin, please call Vicki at 763-788-9062 x 212. For private prayer call Larene at 763-789-4246.

Pray For Our Loved Ones Who Have Died Especially Irene Ricci, Timothy Scheneman and all who have died from war. May God grant them everlasting peace and joy in the kingdom of heaven.

Pray For All the Sick Especially: Mary Boatwright • Paul Bona

Michelle Cadieux • Nichole Castonguay • Robin Crisp Mary Fredenburg • Barbara Kaminski • Gerald Krawiecki

Steven Lauinger • Roger Mack • Johnnie Meyering Janet Mihalik • Shawn Moulzolf • Danille Remarke

Steven Murphy Rogers • Greg Sery • Tammy Swedzinski Sandra Tabor • Elaine Thunstrom • Lois Weyers

Germaine Wolsfeld • and all those on our prayer chain

If your name was removed and you would like to continue to be on the prayer list please call 763-788-9062 x 212.

Pastoral Ministry School News

Social Justice Coins for Social Justice

Small Change Can Do a World of Good! Next collection—January 26. IC parishioners are asked to fill the collection basket with their pocket change to benefit the Social Justice Ministry. Only the loose change and marked envelopes from this collection are designated for Social Justice. Marked envelopes are available at all entrances to the church.

Social Justice Meeting Tuesday, January 21, 3:00-4:00 pm the St. Francis room (second floor of the school building).

I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. (Is 49:6b)

Come to Our OPEN HOUSE! Wednesday, January 29, 2020 • 5:30 - 7:00 pm

Tour our school Meet our teachers

Apply for 2020-2021 school year Principal Jane Bona special presentation at 6:00 pm

Please share this invitation with other families—see you there!

Reflections The Week Ahead

Word of Life “If someone shared with you she was pregnant and hadn’t ruled out having an abortion, would you know how to respond? … When a wom-an is facing a difficult pregnancy, the reaction of the first person she tells tends to set the tone for her decision-making. How do we respond to our friend in a loving way that is life-affirming for both her and her baby?” Consider the four steps of the L.O.V.E. Approach™*: Listen and Learn, Open Options, Vision and Value, and Extend and Empow-er.” Read more at www.respectlife.org/l-o-v-e.

—USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities “What to Do When a Friend is Considering Abortion”

*The L.O.V.E. Approach™ is trademarked by Heartbeat International, Inc. and may not be adapted or modified. The L.O.V.E. Approach™ is used in "What to Do When a Friend Is Considering Abor-tion" with permission from Heartbeat International, Inc.

Why Do We Do That? — Catholic Life Explained Question: The Bible talks a lot about “testifying” or “giving testimo-ny” to our faith. That makes me think of a courtroom. What does testi-fying to faith look like in everyday life?

Answer: The courtroom image isn’t too far off for some Christians. The Church has often been persecuted, and it was especially intense in the early days of the Church, when Acts and the various epistles were being written. For persecuted Christians, it did mean attesting publicly to their faith in Jesus Christ, sometimes before harsh judges. To testify is to bear witness, and this is something we are all called to do.

The call of Jesus is, first and foremost, a call to conversion of life. It is a repentance from sin, a casting off of old ways of seeing and moving in the world. The Christian life is one of transformation, becoming more and more like our God of love. In one sense, to testify to faith should happen naturally as we live like Jesus did. Our lives should bear witness in the respect we accord to others and the uncompromising dignity we honor in them. We bear witness in our gratitude, in our joy, in our hope in God’s power and grace. This is where we start! Some-times others might inquire, as St. Peter puts it, as to “a reason for your hope.” Now you’re on the stand! It’s time to offer, “with gentleness and reverence,” the Good News of the Gospel (c.f. 1 Peter 3:15-16).

Live the Liturgy—Inspiration for the Week Our relationships ground and define us. Understanding where we come from, who matters to us, and to whom we have an allegiance all frame and direct our lives. One unchangeable about who we are is that God formed us in our mother’s womb. Unless understanding of ourselves begins with this solid fact about ourselves, our knowledge will always be incomplete. John the Baptist and Jesus knew who they were and where they came from. This allowed them to understand their purpose and express their identity. To whom do you matter? If your primary answer is God then you are on your way to knowing who you are. Each of us has a purpose and mission to fulfill. See God as your strength and get about the business of meeting life’s challenges.

©LPi

Sunday, January 19 Parish Pancake Breakfast __________ 8:30 am - 11:45 am Ticket Sales _____________________ 9:00 am - 11:30 am (Catholic United Financial Raffle, Spaghetti Dinner Presale) Children’s Liturgy of the Word ____ 10:00 am - 11:00 am ICS Basketball Tournament ________ 10:00 am - 6:00 pm

Monday, January 20, Martin Luther King Jr. Day No School/Parish Office Closed RCIC I __________________________ 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Tuesday, January 21 No School—Teacher-in-service Social Justice Meeting _____________ 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm Charismatic Prayer Group ___________ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Wednesday, January 22 IC Music Presents Meeting __________ 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm Intramurals ______________________ 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Parish Choir _____________________ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Thursday, January 23 Parish Council Meeting _____________ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm Bell Choir _______________________ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm RCIA ___________________________ 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Friday, January 24 Book Fair _______________________ 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm Spaghetti Dinner __________________ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm 8th Grade Bake Sale _______________ 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm RCIC I __________________________ 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayer Group _ 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm

Saturday, January 25 Saturday Morning Club ____________ 9:00 am - 10:30 am Baptism Class ___________________ 9:00 am - 11:00 am Cub Scouts, Pack 66 Pinewood Derby _ 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm Wedding ________________________________ 2:00 pm Reconciliation ____________________ 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm Our Lady of Guadalupe Prayer Group _ 6:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Sunday, January 26 Fellowship (school cafeteria) _______ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Book Fair ______________________ 9:00 am - 12:00 pm Children’s Liturgy of the Word ____ 10:00 am - 11:00 am

Masses and Intentions Sunday, January 19 Mass, IC Parishioners _____________________ 8:00 am Mass __________________________________ 10:00 am Mass in Spanish, Aureliano Del Toro & ________ 11:30 am Hermelinda Equihua

Tuesday, January 21 Mass, Roman Espinas ______________________ 7:30 am

Wednesday, January 22 Mass, John Misik _________________________ 7:30 am

Thursday, January 23 Mass (School), +John Vail __________________ 8:30 am

Friday, January 24 Mass, +Robert Soukup _____________________ 7:30 am

Saturday, January 25 Mass ___________________________________ 5:00 pm In honor of Catholic Schools Week—Teachers & Students

Sunday, January 26 Mass, +Ron Shasky ________________________ 8:00 am Mass, +Margaret Getty ____________________ 10:00 am Mass in Spanish, IC Parishioners _____________ 11:30 am

+Deceased View the bulletin online at ICCSonline.org SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME 5

9 Days for Life is a novena for the protec-tion of human life. Each day’s intention is accom-panied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. Join today at:

www.9daysforlife.com

6 Church of the Immaculate Conception ∙ Columbia Heights JANUARY 19, 2020

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time On the cusp of fame, power, or influence, would you turn it down? Today’s Gospel again features John the Baptist. Controversial but popular, John has gathered quite a group of followers. He has disci-ples. People come from near and far to be baptized by him. Phari-sees and government leaders are

drawn to his preaching. If John was another man, a lesser man, he would have claimed his own greatness. Instead, John the Baptist is a witness to humility.

“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and said, ‘Behold the Lamb of God … he is the one of whom I said, “A man is coming after me who ranks ahead of me.”… the reason why I came baptizing with water was that he might be made known.’” Rather than point to him-self, John points to Christ. John could have grasped at what he had ac-cumulated. He could have seen Jesus as a Messianic competitor. In-stead, John knows who he is. He knows his place as forerunner. Be-cause John knows who Jesus is. “I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God.”

A life of humility, a life for others, can be challenging to live. So much of our culture is built around achievement and individualism. We can justify it, too, in pursuit of “greater goods” and higher ideals. In the process, however, we might miss our own participation in the kingdom of God. John, for all of his humility, was not an afterthought. In another Gospel passage, Jesus calls him “the greatest prophet,” even the great-est of men. Why? Because he fulfills the mission given to him by God: to announce the coming of the Messiah. We too are prophets and fore-runners. Our witness to the Gospel is meant to point people to Jesus. Consider your own mission this week. To whom are you called to an-nounce the good news of the Son of God?

©LPi

Gospel Meditation

Emergency (Death or Anointing) .... 763-788-9062 (#9)

PARISH Parish Office ..................................................... 763-788-9062 (Open Monday - Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm) Parish Fax ......................................................... 763-788-0202 Pastor, Fr. James Peterson ............................................. x 215 Accounting Specialist, Julie Mack ................................. x 204 Communications Coordinator, Sue Ashmore ............... x 205 Director of Music and Liturgy, Ray Bannon ................ x 214 Director of Marketing, Hazel Jordan ............................ x 207 Maintenance Supervisor, Doug Olson .......................... x 218 Pastoral Minister, Vicki Bazille ..................................... x 212 Parish Business Manager, Michael Wilde ..................... x 202 Reception Desk .............................................................. x 201 Records Coordinator, Terri Glaeser ............................. x 227 Special Event Coordinator, Jami Bridgeman ............... x 221 Wedding Coordinator, Barb Hartwick .......................... x 204

FAITH FORMATION Director of Faith Formation, Mary Nawrocki .............. x 210 Administrative Assistant, Mary Scott ........................... x 208

SCHOOL School Office .................................................... 763-788-9065 School Fax ........................................................ 763-788-9066 Principal, Jane Bona (jbona@immac-church.org) ......... x 220 Director of Advancement/School Business Manager, Mary Beth Pfeifer .......................................................... x 203 Administrative Assistant, Sherri Macko ....................... x 219

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL MEMBERS Dave Kellner Kathy Johnson Charles Karanja

Stacy McVary Marcus Paulson

Jane Bona (School Principal) Steve Smith (Parish Trustee)

Copies of the Parish Council meeting minutes are available in the pamphlet racks at the entrance to the church.

LOW GLUTEN HOSTS

Low gluten hosts (.002 gluten) are available.

Church Directory

Upcoming Prayer and Listening Events What’s working and what’s not in the Archdiocese? Archbishop Hebda wants to hear from you! Please prayerfully consider attending an upcom-ing Prayer and Listening Event, as part of the Pre-Synod Process and make your voice heard. Your input will help guide the Archdiocese over the next 5-10 years. There are 20 Prayer and Listening Events. The next three are: Saturday, January 25, 9:00 am - noon at St. Peter Claver, St. Paul; Tuesday, January 28, 6:00 - 9:00 pm at Pax Christi, Eden Prairie; Saturday, February 1, 9:00 am - noon at St. Stephen, Minneapolis (bilingual Spanish/English). Learn more about the Synod and see a full listing of Prayer and Listening Events at archspm.org/synod.

Archdiocesan Synod

“Here I am, Lord; I come to do your will.” (Ps 40)

Weekend of January 11-12 Sunday Envelopes ..................................... $ 4,573.47

Plate Collection ......................................... 1,526.58

WeShare Online Giving ............................ 252.50

Total Weekly Collection ......................... $ 6,352.55

Collections

7 View the bulletin online at ICCSonline.org SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Visit our website: ICCSonline.org