Weekly Bulletin

• Week of January 31, 2010

What's New

USCCB Response to Haiti Disaster	Diocese of Venice Haiti Relief
Society of Saint Vincent de Paul Response to Haiti Disaster	Catholic Relief Services Haiti Relief

FAREWELL TO A FRIEND AND SERVANT: FR. RAY HUGHES, C.R. - He will be leaving our parish at the end of January.  Fr. Ray has served our parish well for almost two years and we are most grateful to him.  We are sorry to see him go and wish him an abundance of blessings in his future service to the People of God. He is still in conversation with his order, the Congregation of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ, as to the exact location of his next assignment.

FROM FATHER RAY HUGHES:
Dear Friends,

  For a little over a year and a half I have ministered to all of you at St. William Parish.  It has been a happy and rewarding experience and I have received many blessings from you and your children.  I thank all of you for being so kind and receptive.

  I will remember all the people who serve so generously each day.  These memories are in my heart forever.  Love and blessings of God remain with you.

  Love,
  Fr. Ray

CANDLEMAS - On February 2, 2010, St William Parish Family will celebrate Candlemas at the 8:00 AM Mass. This ancient feast was an important Jerusalem festival by the end of the 4th century, and it was introduced at Rome in the 7th century. Candlemas has had a mixed history.  Through the ages, on this day, the Church has celebrated it as a feast of the Lord (and his Presentation in the Temple), a feast of the Virgin May (and her purification), and it has also celebrated it as the feast of Simeon.  The liturgical reforms of Vatican II returned to the earliest theological traditions and the original christological focus of the feast, the Presentation of the Lord.  This Mass has often been preceded by the blessing and distribution of candles, probably to symbolize Christ’s role as light of the World. Using the symbolism from the candles used in church and liturgy, candles are blessed for use in the home.  Please bring any candles you will be using at home to have them blessed. A bit of trivia…this date has been used for weather predictions.  Farmers applied the theory that the weather for the rest of the winter would be opposite the weather of Candlemas.  An old English song postulated that if the sun casts a shadow on Candlemas you can expect more winter, but if there is no shadow, the end of winter is close at hand.  Sound familiar?

BLESSING OF THE THROATS will take place on St. Blasé Day, Wednesday, February 3rd at both daily Masses.

ATTENTION LADIES - The office of Parish Social Ministry is offering a day of retreat and reflection February 6th.  Marilyn Bowman will be our retreat leader.  The day will begin with coffee and a light breakfast following the 8 AM Mass.  Registration: 8:30, Presentation: 9 AM.  Lunch: 11:30AM.  Day ends at 2 PM in time for 2:45 PM Mass.  The theme for the day will be “Discerning our gifts on our Lenten Journey”.  We will serve a light lunch. Cost is $15 for the day including lunch.  Please call Janet, 261-1876 for reservations. Deadline is February 3rd.

MASS WITH PRAYERS FOR HEALING - Will be held here at St. William Church on Thursday, February 4th at 7 PM.  Fr. Roger Hessian from St. Peter the Apostle Church in Naples will be the celebrant. All are welcome to attend.  For information, call Kit Corbett at 263-2112.

FUNERAL PRE-PLANNING WORKSHOP FEBRUARY 12TH, 2010 - The workshops will be offered twice on the 12th. Preregistration is a must and the deadline is February 5th.  Workshop times  1-3 pm and 6-8 pm both sessions will be held in the Ministry Center.  Please indicate which workshop you will be attending when you call to register.  Leave the names of all attendees who will be attending.  There is a $10 dollar fee for the workshop supplies. The workshops fill up fast so please register early.  Call Janet at 261-1876 or email her at janet@saintwilliam.org.