Family life is rooted in the unconditional love of God as witnessed by the Holy Family.

7:30 am A. Richard Valore & Charles and Ann Derrick

If you would like to schedule a Mass for 2003 please call the parish office at 216-475-4300.

Contributions for December 21 and 22

Due to the early deadline requirements for today’s bulletin we are unable to publish this weeks Offertory collection

Please keep in your prayers the sick and the homebound of our parish, Elizabeth Baroni, Ellen Blados, L.C., Mary Cala, Maria Carriero, John Cegonko, Josephine Centrobi, Geraldine D’Amico, Eleanor Dembowski, Rita Downey, Dominic Fabrizio, Angelo Farace, Robert and Cheryl Gecik, Edward and Evelyn Globokar, Virginia Harley, John Husack, Jessica Kickham, Millie Kulchar, Rosemarie Lawrence, Don Lubecki, Elizabeth Miller, James Neitzel, Judith Nagorski, Helen Plewacki, Josephine Radic, Clara Rocco, Eleanor Sabo, Rachel Salvaggio, Jordyn Sansavera, Catherine Schiffbauer, Daniel Sholz, Julia Tomaselli, Jean Toth, Stanley Trojanowski, Michael Tustan, Ronnie Waclawik, Linda Yovanno, and Regina Zielachowski.

It is with great pride and joy that we announce that several of our St. Martin of Tours young people have received academic honors from their school. Trinity High School: Alexander Alten, Rebecca Alten, Margaret Dawson, Jason Duale, Christine Gittinger, Michael Gittinger, Dale Godbey, Wendy Godbey, Jennifer Kall, Amy Kempe, Kristin Konopka, Nicole Lesniak, Maxwell Pachuta, Meghan Pauletta, Trevor Rutti, Christopher Ryba, Julianne Ryba, Laura Siciliano, William Suva, Lindsay Tessmer and David Wakelee; St. Edward High School: James Kinnaird. Way to go students!!!! Keep up the good work!!

In today’s gospel, the infant Jesus was the center of attention. Unfortunately, many children are less valued today. They often take second place to convenience, career, budget, activities and adult needs. The gospel reminds us that children deserve the opportunity to "grow and become strong" and to realize that "the favor of God is upon them." As we enter a new year ask: "What obligations do I have to children that I have not fully met?"

Dear family of St. Martin of Tours,

We celebrate today the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. On a day like today, when grace flows freely for all families, let us use the following questions and suggestions to help us examine our family life and to seek the Lord’s guidance: Do you want to know God’s blessings on your family? Honor your parents. Do you feel bored? Reach out of yourself and love someone. Do you treat your children or parents with respect? Creatively foster an attitude of prayer, respect, and love for the Lord and each other within your family. If you have children, are you reluctant to take authority over them? Work at your relationship with your spouse, or seek the support you need.

Above all, be forgiving, kind, and generous. Commend one another to the Lord. Try to pray together. God wants to pour out forgiveness and the grace to change our lives. He’s just waiting for us to come to him to establish a home environment in which to welcome him.

Offer this prayer for yourself and for your family: "Jesus, I surrender to you all my burdens and negative feelings about my family. Let your love flow through me to every family member. I pray for all families. May your love flowing through your people fill every empty, bored, and lonely heart."

May the Family of God—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—bless all our families, our natural families and our spiritual ones, too.

May God abundantly bless Fr. Matt Glaros, our associate pastor since June 1999, as his ministry concludes at St. Martin’s and begins as an Air Force Chaplain in Mississippi in January 2003. I will miss his smiling face (both bearded and clean-shaven), his youthful enthusiasm, his care for our teens, his compassionate spirit in the sacrament of reconciliation, and his intensity in right-to-life issues

Familiarly yours,

Fr. Jamie

Fr. Matt’s last mass is the 10:00 am mass this Sunday, December 29. After mass there will be a farewell reception for him in the school. Please come to receive his blessing and to offer him your prayers and well wishes.

Masses for the Holy Day of Obligation on January 1, 2003, the Feast of Mary, Mother of God, are on Tuesday, New Year’s Eve at 4:30 pm and on Wednesday, New Year’s Day at 10:00 am. The rectory office will be closed on Tuesday, New Year’s Eve at 12 noon through Friday, January 3. The office will reopen on Saturday, January 4, 9 am-1 pm.

With Fr. Matt’s departure December 30^th, we become a one-priest parish, which necessitates a new mass schedule beginning Tuesday, December 31. There will be no 7:30 am mass that day since we will no longer have a mass on Tuesday mornings. Deacon John Bender will conduct a Liturgy of the Word with Communion. Weekend mass and confession times beginning January 4/5 will be as follows. Saturday remains the same—3:30 pm confessions followed by 4:30 pm mass. Sunday masses will be at 9 am and 11 am.

Beginning on Monday, January 6, St. Martin’s will have new weekday office hours. From Monday through Thursday, the rectory office will be open from 8:30 am to 6:00 pm; on Fridays, the office will be open from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The office will not be open later than these hours. Therefore, if you need keys to open a building or room for a meeting, you will need to make those arrangements in advance. If you have business or desire an appointment with the pastor, please make the necessary phone call to secure the appointment. Beginning Saturday, January 4, the parish office hours for Saturdays will be from 9 am until 1 pm.

Lots of thanks to give, both to those whom we see in their ministry and those whose work we see. Nonetheless, seen or unseen, your ministry and service made Christmas at St. Martin’s a joyous celebration. Thanks to all who: cleaned the church; decorated the church; ministered at worship—choirs and musicians, ushers/greeters, lectors, eucharistic ministers, altar servers and sacristans; sold certificates; brought gifts for the needy and delivered them; prepared the services; cleared the parking lot and cleaned the sidewalks; counted the collection and donated to it; visited us from near and far; and, all who, in any other way gave a helping hand at Christmas time.

Come and see what St. Martin of Tours School has to offer your child! Join other parents at an information session held in the school on Monday January 13, 2003 at 7:00 pm.

The St. Vincent de Paul Committee would like to thank all our parishioners for their generous contributions to the Thanksgiving food collections.

Families were truly moved, even to tears, as bags of groceries, food gift certificates and Christmas gifts were delivered to homes on December 15.

St. Martin of Tours Youth Groups is outstanding for their consideration and thoughtfulness of others. Before the Holidays they presented the St. Vincent de Paul Committee with a check for $200.00. The profit realized from the Pancake Breakfast went directly to help the needy in our parish. A huge round of applause and affirmation for teens and their moderators whose hearts are so magnanimous!

Thanks to our parishioners and youth for being Jesus to others this past Holiday season and throughout the year.

St. Vincent de Paul Committee

On Dec. 30^th I finish up my ministry as Associate Pastor here at St. Martin of Tours Parish and will move into a new ministry as a Chaplain with the U.S. Air Force. My time at St. Martin of Tours has been meaningful and I will take many good memories with me from serving in the midst of your many wonderful families. I will be stationed my first couple years at Keesler Air Force Base in Biloxi Mississippi. My address there will be:

Chaplain, First Lieutenant Matthew Glaros, USAF

500 B Street, Box 24027

Keesler AFB MS 39534. Email: Revglaros@yahoo.com. Keep all those guarding us in the Military services profession in your prayers that with good leadership we may actively pursue with honor, virtue and vigilance a more just and secure world where peace is sustainable and extreme sufferings from poverty, terrorism and tyranny are alleviated for all free peoples worldwide.

May you know the superabundance of love God has shared with us in Jesus at Christmas and always. Goodbye and God bless you,

Holy Family

4:30 Vigil Mass

Mass at 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 (Noon)

4:30 pm Vigil Mass (December 31)

Mass at 10:00 am (January 1, 2003)

The Vincentian Sisters welcome you to come and enjoy their Bethlehem Scene featuring over 1000 angels. Throughout January you are welcome to the Motherhouse at 1160 Broadway Ave., Bedford. Hours are Monday—Friday 9:00 -11:00 am; 1:00-4:00 pm; 6:00-7:00 pm; Saturday—Sunday 1:00-4:00 pm. Groups are asked to call 440-232-4755 to make arrangements.

St. Martin is again participating in the Giant Eagle Apples for the Students Program. Giant Eagle provides the opportunity for students to get FREE computer and educational related equipment into our classrooms. Register for the program at www.gianteagle.com or call 1-800-474-4777. Our School ID Number is 2866. Supporters who registered last year are automatically registered for this year’s program. The program runs until March 22, 2003. Help us earn these needed resources by spreading the word to co-workers, family and friends.

Due to the early deadline requirements for today’s bulletin we are unable to publish the Football raffle winners.

Fr. Kurian of India thanks you for your canceled stamps. Please continue to save the canceled stamps.