Nazareth Catholic Community
February 2, 2020 - Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
Happy Feast of the Presentation!
While most of the country today is focused on the Super Bowl and a groundhog's apparent ability to predict the length of winter, the Catholic Church throughout the world celebrates one of our tradition’s major feasts – the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. This feast commemorates Mary and Joseph presenting Jesus to the high priest Simeon in the Temple of Jerusalem following the Jewish custom.
Today’s feast is also traditionally known as Candlemas. In many parishes candles are blessed on this day as a reminder for us to look for light in the darkness. Reminding us that, just as Jesus was seen as a light for our world, we too are called to be light for others.
To commemorate this feast, Thomas Merton wrote a poem titled: *Lumen ad Revelationem Gentium (A Light to the People). His poem reads as follows:
“Look kindly, Jesus, where we come, New Simeons, to kindle,
Each at Your infant sacrifices his own life’s candle.
And when Your flame turns into many tongues,
See how the One is multiplied, among us, hundreds!
And goes among the humble, and consoles our sinful kindred.
It is for this we come, And, kneeling,
each receives one flame: Ad revelationem gentium.
Our lives, like candles, spell this simple symbol:
Weep like our bodily life, sweet work of bees,
Sweeten the world, with your slow sacrifice.
And this shall be our praise:
That by our glad expense, our Father’s
will Burned and consumed us for a parable.
Nor burn we now with brown and smoky flames, but bright
Until our sacrifice is done, by which not we, but You are known
And then, returning to our Father, one by one,
Give back our lives likewise and waxen lights.
.
Merton’s words remind us that we, like Simeon and his wife Anna, long for examples of hope in a world that often seems dark. Today we find light in the darkness – the light we desire is found within each of us! We are each living examples of light for our world.
Life at times can be overwhelming – between the stress of the academic year, personal worries and anxieties combined with what can seem to be endless examples of a world filled with hate, violence and cause for fear. Today’s feast invites us to a larger perspective to find living examples of light that are around us and within us. We are people of hope and light, illuminating possibilities of love, peace and justice in a world that desperately needs hope.
Where do you find light in your life?
How are you called to be a living example light to others?
Lumen Christi,
~ Jamie
*The Candlemas Procession by Thomas Merton in The Collected Poems of Thomas Merton (New Directions, 1977) pages 92-93.
THIS THURSDAY NIGHT: Eucharistic Adoration and Compline
THURSDAY, February 6, 8:00PM to 9:00PM Linehan Chapel.
Eucharistic Adoration is simply spending quiet time in the presence of Jesus.
Compline is an evening prayer that settles the mind and heart and serves as a peaceful connection between one day or week and the next.
You do not have to be Catholic to participate and there are no special requirements.
Any questions, please call Sr. Donna- 585-733-4422 or email her at ddelsanto@ssjrochester.org.
All are welcome! Come Again or For the First Time!
Take a Study Break and Spend Time in Silence and Stillness
Intercollegiate Weekend Retreat!!
Join college students from all over western New York for a weekend retreat in the Franciscan tradition at Mt. Irenaeus.
Friday, March 27 (leave late afternoon) to Sunday, March 29 (return around 4:00PM)
Mount Irenaeus is the retreat center for St. Bonaventure University. Once a semester, the students at St. Bonaventure invite students from other area colleges to an intercollegiate weekend.
Consider taking a break from the stress of the semester!
Cost is only $20.00 ~ Transportation provided
Space is limited to 6 Nazareth students!!!
Please RSVP below!
Intercollegiate Weekend Retreat!!
Friday, Mar 27, 2020, 03:00 PM
Mt Irenaeus, Roberts Road, Friendship, NY, USA
RSVPs are enabled for this event.
NEEDED: Eucharistic Ministers, Cross Bearers and Lectors
We are in need of people to serve as lectors, communion ministers and cross-bearers for our weekly Sunday 7:00PM Mass. Below will be a description of each position. If you are interested, please respond to this email. Traning will be provided for those who have not served in these roles previously. Thank you!
LITURGICAL MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES
LECTOR:
The Communion Minister will help with the distribution of Communion by offering the Body (consecrated bread) and Blood of Christ (consecrated wine) to each individual who wishes to receive it.
CROSS-BEARER:
Do you like to sing? Do you play an instrument? Our Mass Choir is for you!
Come again or for the first time!
If you play an instrument bring it along!
Questions? E-mail Our Choir Directors:
Caelie Flanagan, cflanag11@mail.naz.edu
Julianna Pollicino, jpollic3@mail.naz.edu
Mark your calendars!!
Add these events sponsored by the Nazareth College Catholic Community today to avoid scheduling future conflicts!
Mass: EVERY Sunday at 7:00PM
Mid-Week Mass: EVERY Wednesday from 12:30PM - 1:00PM
Eucharistic Adoration and Compline: on the following Thursdays from 8:00PM to 9:00PM: 1/23, 2/6, 3/19, 4/2.
NEW: Adoration with Praise and Worship Music: on the following Thursdays from 7:00PM to 8:00PM: 1/28, 2/11, 3/24 and 4/28.
Mass and Meal Off Campus: 5:30PM to 8:00PM: Thursday 1/30, Thursday 2/20, Tuesday 3/31 and Thursday 4/23
Ash Wednesday: February 26, 12:30PM and 7:00PM
Holy Week and Easter:
Holy Thursday, April 9: Mass at 8:00PM
Good Friday, April 10: Service at 12:30PM
Easter Sunday, April 12: Mass at 7:00PM
Nazareth College Catholic Community Pastoral Team:
Julianna Pollicino
Emma Clive
eclive6@naz.edu
Caelie Flanagan
Danica Aquitania
Sacristan
daquita8@naz.eduPope Francis
Bishop of Rome
Gabriela Groman
ggroman7@naz.edu
Sarah Schuler
Parish Council President
Nancy Garcia
Coordinator of outreach to Our Lady of Guadalupe Migrant Community
Sr. Donna DelSanto, SSJ
ddelsanto@ssjrochester.org
Jamie R. Fazio, M.Div.
Katie Maya
Cassie Dupre
cdupre0@naz.edu
Fr. Robert Resier, SJ
rreiser@mcquaid.org
Fr. Matthew Temple, O.Carm.
Fr. Richard Briclker
Nazareth College Catholic Community
Wednesday Mass: 12:30PM
Gluten free hosts available upon request - Please contact Jamie Fazio.
For the Sacrament of Reconciliation, please e-mail one of our priests to schedule an appointment.
Jamie R. Fazio, M.Div. (he/him/his), Catholic Chaplain, Office: GAC 160
The Nazareth College Catholic Community is part of the Nazareth Center for Spirituality. All are always welcome!
Email: jfazio1@naz.edu
Website: http://www.naz.edu/center-for-spirituality/catholic-community
Location: Linehan Chapel, East Avenue, Rochester, NY, United States
Phone: 585 389 2308
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/35057526410/