St. John's

Monday, January 18, 2021

WE WELCOME YOU A gracious welcome to all parishioners, guests, and visitors! It is a pleasure to welcome you to our Parish to share a life of faith in Jesus Christ, Our Savior. This is the House of the Lord.

The Religious Education program begins on Sundays with our 9:00am family mass followed by an hour of classroom instruction.

FIRST RECONCILIATION
First Reconciliation for our Communicants is January 19th at 6:15pm. Please pray for them as they continue their faith journey.

ABCD IS ABOUT TO BEGIN!
Envelopes have been mailed to your homes by the Archdiocese and will also be available on the tables in church. Please place your envelopes in the collection basket. We will process them in the rectory and submit them to the Archdiocese for the proper accounting to the parish. Thank you in advance for your support.

9 DAYS FOR LIFE NOVENA
9 Days for Life is a multi-faceted novena for the respect and protection of every human life. Each day, a different intention is accompanied by a short reflection, suggested actions and related information. Beginning Thursday, January 21 through Friday, January 29. Anyone can join at 9daysforlife.com!

THANKS TO OUR MINISTRIES
Thank you to those who support our mission in many ways throughout the year: participating in Mass and the sacraments, Religious Education, food drives, blood drives, and on and on. It is through this dedication to our Lord and each other that every person has the benefit to receive and share gifts for the overall good of the souls here. May you all be blessed by the Lord!

A GIFT BOOK FOR 2021 In this extraordinary book, Matthew Kelly powerfully demonstrates that we cannot live the life we have imagined unless we learn to tend to the soul. I Heard God Laugh will be on tables by the exits. Each family is welcome to take home one copy.

TAX STATEMENTS COMING
Donation letters for the 2020 tax year will be mailed before January 31, 2021. Thank you for your generous support all year long!

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY MASS All couples married in the Catholic Church celebrating their 1st, 25th, 50th or 50-Plus wedding anniversary in 2021 are invited to come to a Mass on February 13th at St. Mary Cathedral to receive a blessing from Archbishop Thomas Wenski. Couples interested in having their picture taken with Archbishop Wenski should arrive by 4:00pm with Mass starting at 5:30pm. Click Here to Register.

We ask those attending Mass in-person, to please wear cloth masks that cover both the mouth and nose.

Welcome to the Saint John the Baptist Catholic Church parish family. We continue to deepen in the strengths of the parish: prayer, worship, and education of our members in the ways of God. We welcome you. We hope and pray that you will grow with us as we journey on our life's road to the Lord.

ALL LIVE TELECAST MASSES WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE SCREEN ABOVE.
We have installed a camera system in the back of the church to telecast masses live on this page. If you can't join us in person, please join us here. Click our YouTube link to view past services. Please consider Online giving.

THE GREAT SHARING

We basically accept that there is much goodness in all people. By the same token, there is a weakness also inherent in the human spirit. It is, however, uplifting to know that all of us men and women are made in the spiritual "image and likeness of God." This giftedness undoubtedly gives us great worth in the eyes of the Almighty. Essentially we are spiritual beings with an everlasting destiny. Our inclinations tend towards basic goodness even though the presence of evil in the world may seek to lure us away from our instinctive idealism.

Interestingly, ingrained in the human spirit is a compassion for the deserving, the needy, the victims, and the underdog. There is a feeling of our own humanness and a consciousness of "there but for the grace of God go." Realistically then, I deduce that I ought to show some consideration, concern, and support for persons in need.

Just look around and see that there are people in need everywhere. Whether they are the children or adults, indigent men or battered women, the sick in mind, body or spirit, the hungry in soul or body, those who lack shoes on their feet or a roof over their heads, they are the needy of our day and they cry out for help. Granted some may not be deserving of assistance but in that they have to deal with the Lord. As givers, we fulfill our portion of the equation of just stewardship by the kindness of our generous heart. The receiving individuals, while they should be verifiably worthy, have to justify their condition to a higher power.

The Catholic Church has a most credible worldwide record of service in Third World countries as well as in our own Western culture. This vast assistance program whether in spiritual, emotional, educational or material areas, offers needed help to untold numbers. Within South Florida, the services of the Archdiocese of Miami are well documented as the work of the Lord goes on. You are a vibrant part of that great sharing. May you continue to do your part to lighten the burden of others.

Blessings,
Father Vincent T. Kelly

RESPECT LIFE NEEDS YOUR DONATIONS!

Items that are most needed are:
•   Diapers and Wipes
•   Baby Towels
•   0-6 Months Onesies (body suits)
•   0-6 Months Sleep 'n Plays (short and long sleeve)
•   Other gently worn baby clothes up to 2 years old

Please drop donations off at the Respect Life offices, 525 NE 13th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304. Office hours are Monday through Friday from 10:00am to 3:00pm. Please call (954) 565-0229 when you arrive and someone will meet you at your vehicle.

Your donations are greatly appreciated!

PRAYER OF THE WEEK

Prayer for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Almighty ever-living God, who govern all things, both in heaven and on earth, mercifully hear the pleading of your people and bestow your peace on our times. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.