“We become what we love and who we love shapes what we become.”-St Clare of Assisi
Sunday readings for January 18, 2026- Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: Isiah 49:3, 5-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 40:2, 4, 7-10
Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 1:1-3
Gospel: John 1:29-34
Announcements
Firefighters Mass
The annual Mass for Firefighters at Saint John’s will be Saturday, February 28 at 10 AM. Please mark your calendars and plan to join in prayer for the safety of all firefighters.
Pilgrimage to DC for Immigration reform
On Thursday, March 5th, there will be a trip led by the Archdiocese to Capitol Hill to meet with congressional representatives/staff to advocate for immigration reform.
Please see Bishop Cooke’s letter, which is attached, and RSVP if you plan to attend by Friday, January 23rd. Instructions to sign up are in the letter.
Rosary with Andy Chan’s family
Please join us on Wednesday evening January 21st at 7:30pm to pray the rosary with Fr Tom and Andy’s family as a way to show our continued support and love to his family. The zoom link is below:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/87367832009?pwd=xt6kf81HDVMA1wwpCiCHFdJe4zz7KA.1
Meeting ID: 873 6783 2009
Passcode: 710064
Bangladesh Collection
In the past two years, the Capuchin Order has opened a new mission in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is a Muslim country, but it has a small but vibrant Catholic community. Our friars work among the poorest people and do wonderful religious and social work.
Recently the superior of the Capuchins in Bangladesh, a friend of mine, emailed me not about the needs of the Capuchins and their missionary work, but about a convent of truly needy Poor Clare Sisters. Poor Clares are Franciscan contemplative Sisters. The presence of Franciscan Sisters whose mission is prayer is a sign of hope and spiritual peace. It is important to the Catholics and Muslims in the region that there are Sisters among them at prayer.
The convent is leaking water and they need to repair the roof. The Sisters live a simple poor life and receive no help from outside the country. The poor Catholic neighbors support basic needs, but there is not enough money to repair the leaking roof. I understand that it will cost about $12,000 US dollars.
I promised the Sisters and the friars that I would ask for a second collection at Saint John’s and Holy Redeemer. If you feel motivated to make a donation, our second collection for the Poor Clare Sisters of Bangladesh will be on Sunday, February 25.
We have many vital needs in our own parish and there are important collections for the Archdiocese and other Catholic causes. However, in this case, every dollar donated to the Poor Clare Sisters in Bangladesh will go directly to those Sisters. There are no administrative or fundraising expenses.
In the past two years, the Capuchin Order opened a new mission in Bangladesh. Bangladesh is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is a Muslim country, but it has a small but vibrant Catholic community. Our friars work among the poorest people and do wonderful religious and social work.
Recently the superior of the Capuchins in Bangladesh, a friend of mine, emailed me not about the needs of the Capuchins and their missionary work, but about a convent of truly needy Poor Clare Sisters. Poor Clares are Franciscan contemplative Sisters. The presence of Franciscan Sisters whose mission is prayer is a sign of hope and spiritual peace. It is important to the Catholics and Muslims in the region that there are Sisters among them at prayer.
The convent is leaking water and they need to repair the roof. The Sisters live a simple poor life and receive no help from outside the country. The poor Catholic neighbors support basic needs, but there is not enough money to repair the leaking roof. I understand that it will cost about $12,000 US dollars.
I promised the Sisters and the friars that I would ask for a second collection at Saint John’s and Holy Redeemer. If you feel motivated to make a donation, our second collection for the Poor Clare Sisters of Bangladesh will be on Sunday, February 25.
We have many vital needs in our own parish and there are important collections for the Archdiocese and other Catholic causes. However, in this case, every dollar donated to the Poor Clare Sisters in Bangladesh will go directly to those Sisters. There are no administrative or fundraising expenses.