The Gift of the Eucharist

“How many of you say: I should like to see His face, His garments, His shoes? You do see Him…He gives Himself to you, not only that you may see Him, but also to be your food and nourishment."

-St. John Chrysostom

The heart of our Roman Catholic faith is the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. It is the most important of all seven sacraments because in receiving the Eucharist, we are embracing the very body, blood, soul and divinity of Jesus Christ and become one with Him. Through this act of love and unity, we receive innumerable graces, and for this reason, it is

important that we understand the significance of what we are doing when we join the Communion line.

The wonderful privilege we have been given as Catholics in receiving the Most Blessed Sacrament is sometimes lost to us. It becomes automatic, or even mechanical, and so it is easy to forget to meditate on the magnificence of

receiving the real Body and Blood of Christ, and to show appropriate reverence while receiving this sacrament.

One Sunday at Mass there was a small spill of the Most Precious Blood in front of where I was sitting. I noticed the Extraordinary Minister of the Eucharist place his purificator over the spill and move to the side to continue distributing

from the Chalice.

When Mass ended, I remained seated in the front pew waiting for my husband, who was the Deacon of the Mass, to come and cleanse the floor where the spill had occurred. I noticed a young man of about 30 walk forward from his pew behind me, holding the hand of his little son. I thought he was going to pick up the purificator, and I started to move toward him to stop him and explain that it needed to be cleansed appropriately. But this young man fell to both knees near the spill and gently pulled his child down next to him. He blessed himself, made his child bless himself, prayed a moment,

then stood and walked to the back of the Church to leave.

I was filled with joy when I witnessed this reverence of the spilled Blood of Christ by this young father. He got

it...he knows the importance of this precious gift we have been given, and he’s teaching his child about it.

The Church encourages us to receive the Eucharist frequently, daily if possible. But before doing so, there are

some things we must bear in mind:

We should be prepared and worthy of this most precious gift; that is, to be in a state of grace, have made a good confession since our last grave sin, believe in transubstantiation (the real presence of Jesus—body, blood, soul, and

divinity—in the Eucharist), and not be under an ecclesiastical censure such as excommunication.

We should never receive Communion out of habit or embarrassment because everyone else around us is receiving, and if we have committed a grave sin, we should receive the Sacrament of Penance before going to Commun-ion again. If for any reason we are unable to receive Communion, we are encouraged to express in our hearts a prayerful

desire for unity with the Lord Jesus and with one another.

We should observe the Eucharistic fast and not eat or drink anything except water or medicines at least one hour

before receiving Holy Communion. And always receive with reverence

St. Cyril of Jerusalem instructed his congregation in the method of receiving the Eucharist by hand as far back as

AD 390, and his beautiful words may help us understand what receiving in our hand really means:

Continued on page 3...

The holy family jesus, mary and joseph PAGE 2 December 29, 2019

PARISH & MASS SCHEDULE

SPONSOR OF THE WEEK: D & A AUTOBODY Our bulletin is brought to us free of charge thanks to the generous support

of our advertisers. Please continue your patronage of our advertisers.

ST. MARTIN OF TOURS PARISH STAFF Pastor: Msgr. Thomas A. Martin

Deacons: Thomas Thamann and David Guido Administrative Assistant: Colleen Takacs

Bookkeeper: Bobbie Appelgren Director of Religious Education: Tim McNamara Coordinator of Youth Ministry: Shannon Sheets

Pastoral Care/Liturgy/Receptionist M-W-F: Sue Maneikis Bulletin Editor/Receptionist T-TH: Kathy Laske

Scrip Coordinator: Dave Kosacek

Music/Choir Director: Jane Mattison

Mass Schedule Saturday 5:30p Sunday 8:00a & 11:00a Wed. & Fri. 9:00a

Reconciliation on Saturdays 10:00-11:00a Office Hours: Monday—Friday 9:00a-4:00p

ST. MARTIN OF TOURSST. MARTIN OF TOURS 5855 East W Avenue, PO BOX 264, Vicksburg, MI 49097

(269) 649-1629 St. Vincent DePaul Ext 1010 www.stmartinvicksburg.org

PLEASE PRAY FOR: Mike Anderson, Mackenzie McCowen,

Judy Hansford, Gina Hygema, Sarah Kettenbeil, Bob Lakowski, Vicki Pearl, Monica Pelto,

Millie Robinson, Leo Swiat

December 29 Sunday This week the Sanctuary Lamp burns for Dan Ramlow by Jay & MaryAnne Smith 8:00 a.m. Mass For the people of St. Martin No Religious Ed classes or Adult Study Group 11:00a.m. Mass †EJ Shick by Margot Shick No Youth Group December 30 Monday 9:00a.m.—4:00p.m. Parish office open all day No Bible Study December 31 Tuesday 9:00a.m.—12:00p.m. Parish office closing at noon 4:00p.m. Vigil Mass St. Edward, Mendon No Mass at St. Martin January 01 Wednesday Parish office closed 10:00a.m. Mass Living members of the S Kim Lee family by S Kim Lee No Mass at St. Edward, Mendon January 02 Thursday 9:00a.m.—4:00p.m. Parish Office resumes normal hours 7:00p.m. R.C.I.A. January 03 Friday 8:00a.m.—9:00a.m. First Friday Adoration 9:00a.m. Mass For the intentions of the Annis family By Roger & Susie VanderBeel 9:30 a.m.—7:00 p.m. First Friday Adoration 11:00 a.m.—4:45p.m. Red Cross Blood Drive Parish Hall January 04 Saturday 7:30a.m. Men’s group 5:30p.m. Mass †Doni & Ben Hoevel by S Kim Lee January 05 Sunday 8:00 a.m. Mass For the people of St. Martin 9:30a.m. - 10:45a.m. Religious Ed classes & Adult Study Group 11:00a.m. Mass †Toni Maxa by Fred Maxa 5:30p.m.-7:30p.m. Youth Group

WORD OF LIFE “Like Our Blessed Mother welcomed Jesus, we are called to

cherish and protect the gift of human life, at every stage and in every circumstance. ”USCCB Secretariat of Pro-Life Activities“

Living Out Christmas in the New Year”

SCRIP WORK SCHEDULE JAN 04/05 Sat. 5:30p Vliek Sun 8:00a Gillespie/Bloom Sun 11:00a Musselman

Dec 31: 4:00p Vigil Mass at St. Edward Dec 31: No Mass at St. Martin Jan 01: No Mass at St. Edward, Mendon

Jan 01: 10:00a Mass at St. Martin

NEW YEAR’S MASS SCHEDULE

PARISH OFFICE CHRISTMAS HOURS: December 30 - 9a-4p

December 31 - 9a-Noon January 1 - CLOSED

We will resume normal hours 9a-4p on January 2

HOLY FAMILY

DECEMBER 29, 2019

Let us imitate the Holy Family in our Christian families, and our fami-ly will be a cell and a prefiguration of the heavenly family. Say a prayer dedicating your family to the Holy Family. Also pray for all families and for our country to uphold the sanctity of the marriage

bond which is under attack.

SERVER SCHEDULE FOR NEXT WEEK JAN 04/05

DATE MASS CANDLE-BEARER/CANDLE-BEARER\CROSS-BEARER Jan 04 5:30p Janet Haas Volunteer Sue Maneikis Jan 05 8:00a Frankie Loriso Joey Loriso Jane Guido Jan 05 11:00a Will Curtis Jack Curtis Jonathan Abel DATE MASS LECTOR BODY BLOOD Jan 04 5:30p Mike Anderson Deacon Catherine Burgess Tammy Ramlow Toni Dibble Jim Burgess Deena Anderson USHERS: Leandro Filiputti, Jim & Monica Rasmussen, Sharon Zinser Jan 05 8:00a Hugh Swager Deacon Jamie Corder Janet Kosacek Cathy Forman Grace Richards Bill Zeman USHERS: Ron Gingerich, George Richards, Volunteer, Marv Thomas Jan 05 11:00a Richard Szwaja Deacon Deacon David Sirotti Lisa Irwin Kathi Lovell Karen Szwaja Allan Puplis

USHERS: Chad, Mary, Madison & Eric Hessling

FARMER’S BREAKFAST IS JAN 12 NEXT COFFEE & DONUTS IS JAN 19

St martin of tours PAGE 3 Vicksburg, MI

AROUND THE DIOCESE

INSIDE OUR PARISH

DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE who needs heating assistance?

The Diocesan Heating Assistance Program (DHAP) begins Wednesday, January 8, 2020. Anyone in need can access up to $300 of heating assistance. Call St. Martin’s at 649-1629 or Catholic Charities (269-381-9800) to learn more. 10TH ANNUAL CATHOLIC CHARITIES DIOCESE OF KALAMAZOO CHARITIES DINE at Latitude 42 Brewing

Company 7842 Portage Road, Portage. Tuesday, January 7 from 5P—8P. St. Please use the insert in this bulletin to double your donation! BISHOP BRADLEY will officially open the Year of the Eucharist

with a special diocesan Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral Parish on Sunday, January 5, 2020 at 11:30 a.m.

LOOKING TO STAY BUSY (VOLUNTEER) THIS WINTER??? Lending Hands of Portage is looking for help

cleaning and repairing medical equipment that is loaned free of charge for 7 months. They are open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Volunteers only work for 3 hours per week unless they choose to stay longer. For more information contact Dave Kosacek (329-1947) or call Lending Hands at 269-567-4381. NEXT FARMER’S BREAKFAST will be Jan 12 from 9a-1p. All

are welcome to join us.

YOUTH MINISTER: Shannon Sheets 269-649-1629 ext 1001; ym@stmartinvicksburg.org

NO YOUTH GROUP DECEMBER 29.

*WE KICK OFF THE NEW YEAR of youth group on January 5 from 5:30-7:30.

DIRECTOR OF RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Tim McNamara 269-649-1629 ext 1003 dre@stmartinvicksburg.org

PARISH MISSION: To develop a growing Christian community by

responding to the Spiritual and Temporal needs of the people of St. Martin of Tours Parish; To instill the living faith in our children; and to be a beacon of

light to the larger community that Christ may be better known to all.

DECEMBER 29, 2019 - THE HOLY FAMILY OF JESUS, MARY, AND JOSEPH

“Wives, be subordinate to your husbands…Husbands, love your wives…Children, obey your parents in everything…Fathers, do

not provoke your children…” (Colossians 3:18-21)

Pope Francis said that families, through their life of prayer and love, become "schools of true human growth." Being credible witnesses of Christian love, especially that of family members, exerts the most positive influence on our children. We are all children of God, let us pray and love each other as God, Our

Father, does for us.

Welcome to St. Martin of Tours. If you would like to register, change your address, or have a question about our parish, please fill out the form below and drop it in the collection basket or mail it to St. Martin of Tours,

P.O. Box 264, Vicksburg, MI 49097 Name: ___________________________________________ Address:____________________________________________ City/zip: ________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________________ Email: __________________________________________ __I would like to enroll as an active parishioner. __Please change my address to the one shown above. __Please change my phone to the one shown above. __Please change my email to the one shown above. __I would like to learn more about parish activities. __I would like to register for religious education classes. __I would like to learn more about the Catholic faith. __I would like to speak with a priest about a vocation to the

priesthood or religious life

Continued from front page… “… make thy hand as if a throne for the other, which is on the eve of receiving the King. And having hallowed thy palm, receive the body of Christ saying after it, ‘Amen.’ Then after thou hast with carefulness hallowed thine eyes by the touch of the holy body, partake thereof; … giving heed lest thou lose any of it; for what thou losest is a loss to thee…For tell me, if anyone gave thee gold dust, wouldst thou not with all precaution keep it fast, being on thy guard against losing any of it, and suffering loss?" (Catechetical Lectures 23:22). According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, through the extraordinary gift of Jesus’ presence in the Eucharist, we “break the one bread that provides the medicine of immortality, the antidote for death, and the food that makes us live forever in Jesus Christ.” Resources: CatholicAnswers.com, www.catholic.com/library, “Who Can Receive Communion” Bishops of Pennsylvania, Penn-sylvania Catholic Conference, Questions and Answers on The

Eucharist, (Harrisburg, PA, September 2000) www.pacatholic.org