“Act and God will act, work and He will work.”
-St. Joan of Arc
Sunday readings for February 4, 2024- Fifth Sunday of Ordinary Time
First Reading: Jb 7:1-4, 6-7
Responsorial Psalm: Ps 147:1-6
Second Reading: 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23
Gospel: Mk 1:29-39
Announcements
Rosary for Andy Chan
We continue to support and his family in prayer. We will pray the rosary by Zoom on Thursday, February 8 at 7:15 PM. Here is the Zoom link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/84280779594?pwd=uaDLuB32KkYzZEsaPzp4NQoFuS9hiM.1
Meeting ID: 842 8077 9594 Passcode: 074750
Collection for aged and ill priests of the Archdiocese
This Sunday, February 4, our second collection will be for the aged and ill priests of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia.
Chinese New Year
Chinese New Year is Saturday, February 10. Next Sunday, February 11 we will have ONE Mass at 11:15 to celebrate the New Year. There will be a prelude of music and sacred dance at 11 AM before the Mass. Please come to church early next week. After Mass we will have refreshments in the Teresa Hu Center.
Saint Blaise throat blessing
February 3 is the feast of Saint Blaise. On this day, Catholics bless throats and pray for good health. About 400 years after the death of Saint Blaise in 316 AD, his life story was written in a document, The Actos of Saint Blaise. Here are the relevant portions of the text:
Blaise, who had studied philosophy in his youth, was a doctor in Sebaste in Armenia, the city of his birth, who exercised his art with miraculous ability, good-will, and piety. When the bishop of the city died, he was chosen to succeed him, with the acclamation of all the people. His holiness was manifest through many miracles: from all around, people came to him to find cures for their spirit and their body; even wild animals came in herds to receive his blessing. In 316, Agricola, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lesser Armenia, having arrived in Sebastia at the order of the emperor Licinius to kill the Christians, arrested the bishop. As he was being led to jail, a mother set her only son, choking to death of a fish-bone, at his feet, and the child was cured straight away. Regardless, the governor, unable to make Blaise renounce his faith, beat him with a stick, ripped his flesh with iron combs, and beheaded him.
As the governor’s men led Blaise back to Sebastea, on the way, they met a poor woman whose pig had been seized by a wolf. At the command of Blaise, the wolf restored the pig to its owner, alive and unhurt. When he had reached the capital and was thrown in prison to await execution, the old woman whose pig he had saved came to see him, bringing two fine wax candles to dispel the gloom of his dark cell.
Healing the sick was a primary part of the ministry of Jesus and since the time of Jesus, the church has prayed with its people for the sick. The blessing of Saint Blaise, celebrated with two candles and a prayer for God’s healing, is a lovely Catholic custom.
We will offer the blessing of throats after Our Chinese New Year Mass on February 11th.
Mark your calendars for the Annual Mass for Firefighters
On February 16, 1899, Saint John Church burned. Four firefighters lost their lives fighting that fire. We remember those four men and all firefighters who lost their lives defending the lives and property of others and we pray for the safety of all firefighters. Please join us for our annual Mass for Firefighters on Saturday February 17 at 10 AM.
AAWC Annual Meeting
The Asian American Women’s Coalition (AAWC) invites you to its Annual Meeting with a theme The Power of Giving. Admission is free. Complimentary lunch provided. Register here. See the flyer for more details.
Holy Redeemer Open House
Please ask your friends and relatives who have school age to consider Holy Redeemer School. Our next open house will be Monday, February 19 from 1-2 PM.
Lenten Recollection Day
If you are looking for something to do for Lent, consider attending the Archdiocesan Recollection Day on Saturday, February 24 from 9 AM -3 PM at Saint James the Great Parish, Elkins Park. This event is sponsored by the office for Pastoral Care for Migrants and Refugees. Ask Father Tom or Ursula for details.
Holy Redeemer School Spotlight
The school celebrated Catholic Schools Week by placing colored paper dolls lined up on the walls of the church. Student Appreciation Day was on Thursday Feb 1 with a whole school movie with snacks and drinks. Afterwards, each student received a toy or game to take home with the early dismissal. Teacher Appreciation Day was Friday and the children made gifts and cards to their teachers.
For the Chinese New Year holiday coming next week, the school has early dismissal on Friday, February 9th, and will be closed the following Monday and Tuesday, February 12th & 13th.
The children have started practicing for their Chinese New Year Pageant which is scheduled for Friday February 23rd and Monday February 26th at 12:30 PM
***If you received this bulletin from a friend, request to be on the listserve by sending an email to holyredeemer1939@gmail.com.
Holy Redeemer Church’s website: https://holyredeemerccc.org/