Saint Dunstan Catholic Church Baptism of the Lord January 11th, 2009 - Bulletin
		All you who are thirsty, come to the water!
		— Isaiah 55:1

	Today’s gospel gives us an incredible scene. We have Jesus mingling with the local sinners on the banks of the Jordan. He is indistinguishable from those around him; the anonymous one in the middle of sinners, the village man, the carpenter, the neighbor, the provider and protector of Mary. With this action he steps into the public arena. In a sense his life will not his own anymore. Jesus leaves behind his private life and begins his public ministry. Christ’s baptism begins with a statement of God’s approval of him and of his own acceptance and commitment to the work of God. This feast is a powerful reminder of the vocation to which we are called. It recalls our own baptism in consecrated waters, which cleansed our souls from the state of sin and was the beginning of our relationship with a loving God. "You are my son, my daughter, the beloved! Baptism is a onetime gift and cannot be repeated. We are born into the family of God. We are able to call God, “Our Father” and Jesus Christ “our brother.” Our baptism is not a private affair. It is an acceptance and a commitment to the affairs of God. The truth is, baptism is not over and done with when the priest pours water over our heads and the sacred ceremony is completed. Baptism is the beginning of our life; it takes away our sins but it does not take us away from a sinful world. We still stand in solidarity with the local sinners. We are not above them and we do not judge them. We strive, with the help of God to be Christ-like, to be true family members. The same voice echoes in our hearts, “you are my beloved child, with whom I am well pleased.”
	The St. Dunstan Youth Core Team meets a few times each month to plan events ranging from religious to social themes. Any high school students who are Confirmed in the Catholic Church and interested in participating in the Youth Core Team should contact Aly Garcia, Youth Minister Intern at 692-4872 or stdunstanyouth@att.net. BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS: Those who wish to attend the Baptism Preparation Class should call the rectory well in advance to register. Classes are held on the 1st Saturday of the month at 10:30 am and the 3rd Monday of the month at 7:30 pm in the convent, 1111 Magnolia Avenue. WHAT’S HAPPENING THIS WEEK AT ST. DUNSTAN PARISH Sunday, January 11 Women’s Club Past President’s Luncheon at 11 am in the Parish Center Tuesday, January 13 Novena in honor of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament after the 8am Mass CCD today at 3:45 pm Thursday, January 15 Bible Study at 10 am in the Convent Prayer group meets at Mary mount Green Hills at 7:30 pm Saturday, January 17 Retrouvaille meets in the convent RCIA at 9 am in the rectory Monday thru Saturday Morning Prayer in the church at 7:15 am Monday thru Friday Rosary recited in the church at 7:40 am St. Dunstan Parish Community ~ A Huge Thank You from the T.E.R.E.S.A. Committee Your generosity was overwhelming especially in these most uncertain economic times. Because of your generous support, the T.E.R.E.S.A. Committee was able to distribute gifts and gift cards for children and adults who desperately needed them this Christmas. Your contributions were delivered to families of Vincent de Paul Society of San Mateo this week and were so greatly appreciated. In addition, we were able to contribute much needed Safeway gifts cards to Catholic Worker House of San Bruno for their holiday dinner. We can not thank you enough for your spiritual and financial support. May God bless you abundantly this New Year. St. Dunstan welcomes the Confirmation Candidates and their Sponsors to the 5 pm Mass on Sunday, January 11th. We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide them both as they journey together in faith. Have You Ever Thought About Becoming a Catholic Priest? Interested? Attend a Discernment Retreat January 16-18 at St. Patrick’s Seminary and University in Menlo Park to better understand if a vocation to the ministry of God’s priesthood is for you. When: 4 pm Fri., January 16 through 1 pm Sun., January 18   Where: St. Patrick’s Seminary and University, 320 Middle field Rd, Menlo Park, CA. All meals and lodging provided at no cost.   Who: You must be a single male, 21 years or older and sponsored by a parish priest or recommended by a Diocesan Vocation Director   How: To obtain further information contact the Discern ment Retreat Office: mary.verducci@stpatrickseminary.org ENVELOPE USERS Please pick up your box of envelopes for the new year in the back of the church. They are in numerical order. If you do not know your envelope number a list is available. We request that you please put your name and the amount of your donation on each and every envelope as you use them. DIVORCE RECOVERY COURSE offered by the Separated and Divorced Catholics of the Archdiocese of San Francisco provides a chance to understand the emotional journey begun with the loss of a relationship and to heal the pain from that loss. It will be held for 7 Sunday evenings beginning Jan 11th, 7 –9 pm at St. Stephen’s Church Parish Center, 451 Eucalyptus, SF. To register or for more info call Vonnie @ 873-4235 or Susan at 415 752-1308. PRAYER-DISCUSSION GROUP Would you like to try a faith-sharing group that includes a blend of praise, song, scripture, petitions, talk, etc.? This group meets on Thursday evenings from 7:30 to 9 pm .at Marymount Green Hills Retirement Center. Call Fran or Joe Sigona at 692-2466. WALK FOR LIFE WEST COAST 2009 Mark your calendars for Saturday, January 24, 2009. Join upwards of 25,000 pro-lifers for the 5th annual Walk For Life in San Francisco as we peacefully proclaim our message that abortion hurts women and we all deserve better than abortion. For more information visit the website at www.walkforlife.com. To volunteer or to arrange busses contact us at 415-586-1576 or email questions to info@walkforlifewc.com. Last weekend’s Regular Collection: $9,885.00 Next Weekend’s Second Collection will be for the Parish Maintenance & Development Fund. Thank you for all your support! SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES Sunday: The Baptism of the Lord National Vocation Awareness Week Monday: First Week in Ordinary Time begins Tuesday: St. Hilary Saturday: St. Anthony Need a copy of the Sunday bulletin or of a particular schedule, church and parish information? Please visit the St. Dunstan Parish website at: www.saintdunstanchurch.org. to those who served as Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers and Altar Servers this weekend: Saturday, January 10th 5 PM Lector: J Ryan Eucharistic Ministers: B&G Borba, R&C Fry, C Orfino, N Holober Altar Servers: Salem, Sosa, Jackson, Wilkom Sunday, January 11th 7 AM Lector: R Flahavan Eucharistic Ministers: B Penner, P Livingston, B Rogers Altar Servers: Salinda, Uchi Tabaloc, Yee 8:30 AM Lector: E. Linak Eucharistic Ministers: L Bates, M Ocafrain, J Lilles, D Lawson, P Lucero, M Leland Altar Servers: Salameh, Totah, Totah, Yip 10 AM Lector: F Sigona Eucharistic Ministers: J Sigona, R Garrison, K Whitfield, P Maloney, A&D Vogl, T Herbeck Altar Servers: Solano, Garrison, Whitfield, Whitfield 11:30 AM Lector: G. O’Neill Eucharistic Ministers: C Cannizzaro, B Santos, J Roensch, T Dizon, B&C Martin Altar Servers: Antunez, Reyes, Valdez, Abello 5 PM Lector: J Ledbetter Eucharistic Ministers: J Ledbetter, F Gutierrez, P&M McLaughlin, S Pallari, B Cappel Altar Servers: Sheker, Sheker, Celio, Alaraj Special thanks to all of our ushers for their dedicated service at our weekend Masses. Mass Intentions for the Week January 11 thru January 17, 2008 Sunday  7:00 am For Parish 8:30 am Gaetano & Rosina Bernardo 10:00 am Fr. Finnbarr Horrigan, C.S.Sp 11:30 am Seamus Hunt 5:00 pm Ronnie Mazzoni & Family Monday 6:30 am Joe Delany 8:00 am Aldo Marchi 5:10 pm Charles Tomaselli Tuesday 6:30 am Verna Gochez 8:00 am The Schembri Family 5:10 pm Ann Newell Wednesday 6:30 am Dr. John J. Hutchings 8:00 am Paul Marchionna 5:10 pm Rob Panacci Thursday 6:30 am Dalmacio DeGuzman 8:00 am The Folan Family 5:10 pm Mary Cardone Friday 6:30 am Maureen Chenette 8:00 am Carol Depew 5:10 pm Salvatore Alioto Saturday 8:00 am Yvonne Yberra (living) 5:00 pm The John & Lena Mezzetta Fam We pray for the sick members of our parish family and for those who care for them: Madison Kitz, William Dill, Ted & Eileen Damian, Pat Saracini, Bill Barca, Helen & Vicky Noceti, Irene Thommen, Kyong Cruz, Ciera Whipple, Dorothy Rives, Elsie Noceti, Steve Bacho, Eva Caprini, Mary Farr, Barbara Modica, Karen Shirley, Jose Conrado Vasquez, Henry & Lucy Garcia, Frances Snyder, Jack & Rene Sagrafena, Mrs. Larry Duggins, Antoinette Ramos, Joe Hamilton, Pauline & Joseph Burgio, Noralee Gelhaar, Geraldine Feehan, Martin Hidalgo, Norman Roos, Lyle Dibbs, Gloria Giannini, Maxine Coutts, Anna Mae Stewart, Jonathan Cerezo, Nick Cannuli, Kathy Montiel, The Yakaitis Family, Susan Silvera-Dunn, George Rodriguez Jr, Nafal Jweinat, Michael Coffaro, Diedra Bradshaw, Irma Sweeny, Charlene Spediacci, Esther Litton, Jan Diamond, Viola Burdick, Ronald Reyes, Josephine Muscat, Patricia O’Neill, Virginia Ryan Rogers, Michael Wisherop, Helen Maternia, Elsie Clark, Bernice Malloy, Wayne Devora, Beverly Buhs, Rita Gilmore, Marisa Hosea, Marcella Mahoney, Judy Marks, Rita Bartolo, Michael Hovan, Gerda Altherr, Stephen Petinak, Richard Castro, Donald Clancy, Dan Bray, Rene Tiamson, Dondon Pasco, Dotty Mardiloff, Robert Weldon, Doug Baldwin, Joseph Conrad Rodriguez, Raymond Reudy, Mona Pasco, Rick Trecartin, Mike Casella & Mike Phipps We pray for the deceased members of our parish family: Doris Spiteri