Saturday, January 10

Frank Marshall

Sunday, January 11

8 a.m. Margaret Alves

9:30 a.m. Pete Caron

11a.m. For the People of the Parish

Mon. Jan. 12 Souls in Purgatory

Tues. Jan. 13 Souls in Purgatory

Wed. Jan. 14 Souls in Purgatory

Thurs. Jan. 15 Souls in Purgatory

Fri. Jan 16 Souls in Purgatory

Sat. Jan. 17 Deceased parishioners who were buried from St. James

Sun Jan. 18

8 a.m. Frances Joubert

9:30 Jacinto and Maria Tavares and

Dionisia Costa

11:00 For the People of the Parish

http://www.saintjames-nb.org

ADORATION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2004

NOON TO 5 P.M. IN THE CHAPEL

HOLY HOUR FOR VOCATIONS 4:00 P.M. TO 5:00 P.M.

6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

All who participated in Renew are invited to come.

on the collections for the month of December

Sunday, December 7

$754 ( snow weekend)

Maintenance $301

Sunday, December 14

$3, 668.30

St. Vincent de Paul $ 312

Collection for Retired Religious

$ 967

Sunday, December 21

$ 2,735.22

Fuel $940

Sunday, December 28

$ 2,635.73

DIOCESAN JUBILEE 2004

As we celebrate the centennial celebration of our Diocese which was founded by St. Pius the Tenth in 1904, we look to the special Icon that was given to each parish to mark this event.

What is an Icon? In the realm of the sacred (as distinct from the world of the computer), the Icon has been understood to be an image of a holy object painted on wood.

The painting and veneration of Icons dates as far back as the third century.

There is a certain discipline in the making of an Icon which is different from religious art making in the West. At first the Icon presents images that seem to be lifeless, stiff and distorted. They are certainly not appealing to the eye as are our statues.

The veneration and the honor given to Icons in the Eastern Church seem strange to us in the west.

Once we can understand the meaning behind the Icon, we can connect to the inner searching for God that the Icon presents.

The Icon is intended to present religious truths and certain passages from Sacred Scripture. They attempt to give us a window into the divine rather than give us an accurate portrayal of earthly scenes.

The one who paints the Icon is called an iconographer. The respecting the tradition of colors and forms binds the iconographer to a certain method. The term of making an Icon is not painting an Icon but writing an Icon. Writing an Icon conveys the conveying of a message larger than the person writing.

Parishioners are encouraged to see the Icon as a way of connecting ourselves with the larger picture of the Church. We are called to connect with every parish in the Diocese that has a similar Icon. We are called to connect with the Eastern Church.

Parishioners are invited to venerate the Icon in any special way either by kissing or touching.

We have placed the two Icons together in a place of honor. The Icon of the Holy Trinity was given to us by the Diocese to observe the Holy Year 2000. The Icon of Pentecost is to observe the centennial year of the Diocese. There has been a very good response to the Icons in our parish. That is why we have them where people can approach them.

We as Catholic Christians have many symbols and rituals that are vehicles to communicate what is happening in ourselves.

The Church constantly has to fight against empty ritual. The answer is certainly not to eliminate the symbols or rituals.

As we stand before the Icon of the Pentecost scene, may we touch not only the Icon but be in contact with the whole Church of the Diocese of Fall River. Our parish of St. James is part of the bigger reality of the Church. All that we do as a parish is to be in union with the Shepherd, Bishop George Coleman, and the other parishes of the local Church. Although this is very sound theology, nevertheless it can sound so far away from our daily living. Our local Church and Bishop must face many difficult challenges in this Jubilee year to prepare to enter the second hundred years of journey as a local Church.

May our touch of the Icon, put us in touch with the whole Church and commit ourselves to do our part for the message of the Icon to become a reality, "our reality".