A parish thank you goes out to Cool Hand Luke for shampooing the carpeting in the church. He noticed that the salt and winter snows had taken a toll on it and brought his carpeting cleaning machine in and did a fantastic job for us. The carpet looks as good a new and will make our summer brides very happy. If you happen to run into Cool Hand Luke, let him know how grateful we all are for his willingness to help keep our church spick and span.

I’d like to thank the anonymous donor who shared his/her winnings with me. I will put that money toward the upgrading of our security system. Thank you very much!

Next weekend we will have our Spring Clothing Drive before and after all the Masses. Clothing can be dropped off at the white garage nearest to the dumpster.

The Saint James Cub Scout Pack 37 held their Blue and Gold Dinner Celebration on April 28th. Brigitte Kucharski and Tom Sigler organized the event with the assistance of several of the parents. Our scouts include: Joel Brennan, Matthew McHenry, Brady Meyer, Colin Popoff, J.J. Sank, Alyx Cruz, Travis Kruszewski, Benjamin Kucharski, Bailey Margosian, Brandon Marzka, Joseph McHenry, Logan Miller, Samuel Pepperman, Noah Rimmer, Joshua Rose, Adam Bokshan, Ryan Bello, Matthew Margosian, Michael O’Laughlin, Zachary Suranofsky, Joseph Capan, Garrett Glowacki, Cayden Lombard, Carson Rounds, Mario Scutella, Thomas Sigler, Nolan Weber, Simon Weber. I’m grateful to the following adult leaders who make our program possible: Daniel Brennan, Lyle Meyer, Jennifer McHenry, Brigitte Kucharski, Jessica Margosian, Matt Margosian, Matt Glowacki, and Michelle Lombard.

Deacon Chuck and I have been asked to act as mentors for Richard Winschel who is a deacon candidate for St. Gregory’s Parish. As part of the preparation for permanent deacons, they are required to serve a practicum in a neighboring parish the year before they are to be ordained. The diocese chose St. James to fulfill this role for Rick. We are happy to have him with us and know that he will benefit greatly from Deacon Chuck’s example and solicitude.

There will be a festival meeting on Wednesday at 7:00 at St. James Place. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. We need all the help we can get. Please come if you can.

We are getting a very nice turn out for the rosary on Wednesday evenings at 6:30. Why not come to the rosary and then head over for the festival meeting?

Here is a thought for the week. Keep smiling. Your smile may be the only rainbow of hope for the ones who are coming out of a downpour of troubles and overwhelming trials and disappointments.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick

The Prayer Shawl Ministry would like to thank an anonymous person who gave a substantial amount of money. This will help us to continue to making prayer shawls, baby blankets & scarves. Since we started the ministry we have given away 873 items. I would like to thank the ladies who volunteer their time: Bernie Oatman, Loretta Laniewicz, Patty Bogart, Ann Filutze, Carol Dean, Beckie Bauman, Cheryl Bernatowicz, Audrey Dubowski, Cindy Bielanin, Ann Hatheway, & Pat Gustafson. If you would like to have a Prayer Shawl, please contact Bernie Oatman, 899-8452.

Next Sunday is our opportunity to say “thanks” to our priests for their many years of faithful service. Many of our retired priests are still assisting in parish ministry, serving nursing homes and correctional facilities; some are now elderly, ill or incapacitated and need long-term care. Please be as generous as possible.

I’m very grateful to those who have already made a gift to this year’s Catholic Services Appeal. In addition to helping the diocese fund its charitable outreach services, such as the Bishop’s Breakfast Program for the Homeless, and St. Martin’s Center, your gift will also help us pay for the replacement of the floor in St. James Place. Work on that project has already begun and is proceeding well. We are on target to have the facility ready for the Confirmation reception on March 11th. The replacement of the rectory roof will begin at some point in the late spring or early summer. Please help us by making a gift to this year’s Catholic Services Appeal. No gift is too large; no gift is too small; all gifts will be greatly appreciated.

Our St. James Scouts are sponsoring a win half a hog raffle. There will be two winners; each will win a half a hog. The drawing will take place March 16th. Tickets are $1.00 each and are available at the rectory or from any of our scouts.

A thank you goes out to Jim Burek and Nick Shaffer for retrofitting the two candlesticks next to the Tabernacle so that they now take the same size candles as all of our other holders.

We will have practice for Confirmation on Sunday, March 10th at 6:00 o’clock in the church. Confirmation candidates and their sponsors need to be present.

I received a nice note about our choir from a person visiting here from another parish. She was impressed with our music program and the quality of our choir. She mentioned that at St. James the musical program enhances the liturgy and leads the congregation to a richer and more meaningful appreciation of the Mass. How blessed we are to have such a talented group of singers who do so much to make our Masses a joyful experience for all.

The Iroquois School District Foundation is sponsoring their Taste of East Erie today from 1 - 4 at the high school. They will be featuring samples from various East Erie restaurants, Chinese auction, quilt raffle, gas card give aways, and a 50/50. Tickets are $12 at the door and children under 6 are admitted free.

Save the Date...Our School Board will be sponsoring their Casino Night and Reverse Raffle on April 13th at St. James Place. If you can volunteer to give us a hand, call Greg Breski at 898-8765.

Here is a thought for the week. If you enable someone to grow in faith today, you will have enabled them to overcome tomorrow's fears.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick

The ministry schedules for the month of March 2013 are now available on the Parish Website. To see when you are next scheduled to serve in a ministry during the Sacred Litugy, click on one of the links below.

• Ministry of Lector
• Extraordinary Minister of the Holy Eucharist
• Ministry of Hospitality

Paper copies of the schedule are also available in the Music Sacristy at the church.

Each year, through the Catholic Services Appeal our parish family is asked to take part in supporting the Church in the 13 counties of the Diocese of Erie. This Appeal supports ministries and services that individual parishes cannot afford to provide on their own. Here are just a few examples of some of the programs that are funded through this Appeal: marriage counseling, adoption services, programs for children and adults experiencing loss through death or divorce, family life ministries, outreach to the marginalized, programs for the deaf and disabled, temporary housing for the abused, and emergencv social services.

Your gift to the Appeal is an investment in both the life of the Church and in the spiritual and physical wellbeing of thousands of individuals whose lives have been touched by the ministries and outreach services your support enables the Diocesan Catholic Charities Office to provide. In 2012, Catholic Charities served 23,000 children, nearly 29,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 64, and more than 9,000 senior citizens. Your gift will continue to make these services possible.

Our parish's Appeal goal is $84,922. In order to achieve it, we need the help of every member of our parish. All monies raised above our target will remain at St. James to help defray the cost of replacing the floor in St. James Place and the shingled roof on the rectory. That roof is close to 25 years and leaks in several spots in the attic. The floor in St. James Place has become a potential liability issue. We are planning to replace it with something similar to what we have in the church. This material is more durable and will be able to withstand the lifting that sometimes occurs due to frost underneath the concrete slab.

Last year, the majority of our parish families responded to this letter and made a gift to the campaign. I'm asking you to please help us this year. A gift of any amount will be greatly appreciated and will go a long way in enabling us to reach or target goal and to accomplish our parish projects. Won't you please help? Together, with God's grace, we can have a tremendous impact on our own parish and throughout the diocese. I am asking you to prayerfully consider making a commitment to this year's Catholic Services Appeal. Every gift will be greatly appreciated and put to good use. Thank you in advance for your positive response.

Sincerely Yours in Christ,

Fr. McCormick

Deacon Charles Adamczyk

Lent will begin on Wednesday, February 13th. Ashes will be distributed at 6:40, at the 7:00 AM Mass, at 10:30, at the 12:10 Mass, at 3:15, 3:45, 4:15, at the 5:15 Mass, and at a Scripture Service at 7:00 PM.

On Monday evenings during Lent there will be a Bible Study Class at the school at 7:00 PM. Please make an effort to attend.

Stations of the Cross and Benediction will be held on Friday evenings at 7:00 PM.

Please make an effort to attend daily Mass during Lent. We will have Mass at 7:00 AM Monday - Friday and at 8:00 AM on Saturdays which will be followed by the Novena to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.

For those unable to attend daily Mass here, please consider going to one of the Deanery Masses listed below. We are the only parish in the East Deanery that still has a Saturday morning Mass.

St. James Women’s Society is once again sponsoring their annual Easter Candy Sale featuring Pulakos 926 Chocolates. Order forms may be obtained at the school or rectory. The deadline for returning order forms with payment is Tuesday, February 19th at the school or rectory office.

OK...you have asked for it, so again Saint James will again be offering an informal Bible Study session.

Deacon Chuck Adamczyk will be facilitating a Bible Study session beginning on Monday, February 18th at Saint James School at approximately 6PM. all are in- vited and welcomed. If you would like to learn more about Sacred Scriptures, please be sure to attend. Bring whatever version of the Bible you currently use.

Our school is hosting an open house for prospective parents and students today from 1:00 - 3:00. Our school provides a safe and nurturing environment which enables our students to thrive. The theme for this year’s Catholic Schools Week was “Catholic Schools Raise the Standards.” How true this is for our school where all of our grades test well above the national and regional norms. Our stellar scores, focus on reading, writing, math, the arts, and communication skills empower our graduates to be successful in high school and beyond. Our students’ success is a tribute to both their parents and the outstanding faculty and administration of St. James School. At SJS, tuition is an investment, not a bill!

A parish thank you goes out to the Board of Directors and members of the Siebenbuerger Club for their generous donation to our parish food pantry. With so much unemployed or underemployed in our region, many in our parish are forced to rely on the food pantry to help them make ends meet, particularly at the end of each month.

High school CCD and Confirmation classes will resume next Sunday at 6:00 PM.

February 11th is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and is also world day of prayer for the sick. We will have an additional Mass on Monday evening at 7:00 PM. The Rosary will be prayed at 6:40. Our Prayer Shawl Group will have prayer shawls available for the sick. They may be obtained in the Mothers’ Chapel after the Mass. Additionally, all those who attend will have the opportunity to be blessed with the Oil of St. Philomena and Her Relic. Please come to the Mass for yourself or for someone you love who is in need. Please spread the word about this special Mass for the sick and unemployed.

Lent will begin on Wednesday, February 13th. Ashes will be distributed at 6:40, at the 7:00 AM Mass, at 10:30, at the 12:10 Mass, at 3:15, 3:45, 4:15, at the 5:15 Mass, and at a Scripture Service at 7:00 PM. On Monday evenings during Lent there will be a Bible Study Class at the school at 7:00 PM. Please make an effort to attend. Station of the Cross and Benediction will be held on Friday evenings at 7:00 PM.

A thank you goes out to all those who attended the Swim Team’s Pasta Dinner last Saturday. A round of applause also goes out to those who organized and helped with the event, especially the chefs.

Saint Blase was a fourth century bishop in Armenia. We don't know much about his life, but we do know that he saved a small boy from choking on a fish bone. Because of this, people through the ages have sought his help, especially for ailments of the throat. February 3 is the Feast of Saint Blase, we will bless throats after all Masses this weekend.

Here is a thought for the week. God did not write solo parts for very many of us. He expects us to be participants in the great symphony of life by doing our best, regardless of who gets the credit.

Pax et bonum,

Fr. McCormick

Place the computer in a well-trafficked area in the home where the whole family can use it. While this practice can help with younger children, parents need to realize that children today access the Internet in many ways: school, library, coffee shop, work or a friend’s house. Devices such as cell phones, smart phones, consoles like X box and Play Station enable them to go online almost anywhere. Be aware of any other computers your child may be using.

It is a requirement of the Erie Diocese that all first-time parents attend a Pre-Baptismal class. The best time to do so is BEFORE your child is born, The next Pre-Baptismal Class at St. James will be held on Tues. February 19 at 7:00 pm in the rectory. Please DO NOT choose your Godparents until you have attended the Class! Please call the rectory first to register at 899-6178 (Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4 pm.)

In honor of St. Blase, throats will be blessed after the Masses this weekend. The words that the priest says for the blessing are: “Through the intercession of St. Blase, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you from ailments of the throat and from every other evil. In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”

The theme for the National Catholic Schools Week 2013 is “Catholic Schools Raise the Standards.” The annual observance starts the last Sunday in January and runs all week . The 2013 theme supports the recent launch of the National Standards and Benchmarks for Effective Catholic Elementary and Secondary Schools, that ensure the effective operation and responsible governance Catholic schools across the country, thus promoting high academic standards and Catholic identity. The logo designed for the week. shown on the front cover of our bulletin, illustrates a chart of steady growth culminating in the highest achievement of all, a cross representing the faith that underscores all Catholic education. We will hold an open house for prospective parents and students next Sunday from 1:00 - 3:00.

If you are reading this on Saturday, Our Swim Team is having a Pasta Diner today from 4:00 -7:00 at St. James Place. You can’t beat the prices. Stop over and support the team.

The 2013 Catholic Services Appeal will get underway the weekend of February 17th. The pastors had a meeting with Bishop Persico and staff of the development office recently. One of the innovations suggested by the Bishop was to have projects and ministries highlighted from each of the three vicariates. This will help individuals living in areas away from the larger population centers to see that they too benefit from the outreach and ministries that the service appeal funds.

We will have our Mass for the Sick and Unemployed on Monday, February 11 at 7:00 PM. This is the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Day of the Sick. The Rosary will be prayed at 6:40. After Mass, all will have the opportunity to be Blessed with the First Class Relic and Oil of St. Philomena. I’d like to thank the members of our Prayer Shawl Ministry for providing the prayer shawls for those who are sick or undergoing cancer treatments. These will be available in the Mothers’ Chapel.

Here is a thought for the week. Don't give up on your dream because it is not going in the direction you want. There are different routes to the same destination. Stay focused and determined.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick

Today is the feast of manifestation, or Epiphany of our Lord. Epiphany is Greek for "to manifest" or "to show". The Feast of the Epiphany marks the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles. The Three Kings – Melchor, Gaspar, and Balthazar — had come from the East in search of the Christ child. The Three Kings, also known as the Magi or the Wise Men, brought with them gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh – gold signifying that Jesus is King; frankincense, the symbol of prayer, signifying that Jesus is the Son of God, and myrrh, which is used to anoint the dead, signifying that Jesus would die for the salvation of all. If the Magi had come in search of an earthly King, they would have been disappointed on finding that they had taken the trouble to come such a long way for nothing. Consequently, they would have neither adored nor offered gifts. But since they sought a heavenly King, though they found in Him no signs of royal preeminence, yet, content with the testimony of the star alone, they adored: for they saw an infant, and acknowledged Him to be the Son of God.

We are grateful to our good neighbor, Nancy Dusckas for underwriting the cost of our parish calendars. There are still a few available at the doors of the Church and in the rectory office.

Our pews and kneelers have all been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected by an anonymous parishioner who wishes only to be recognized as Cool Hand Luke. I’m grateful for his efforts to keep our pews and kneelers clean and germ free.

Mercyhurst High School sent me the list of students from our parish who attained honors for the last marking period. The following received first honors: Kathryn Anderson, Mark Gorski, Evan Warner, Sarah Barbale, Matthew Benczkowski, Alexa Wawrzyniak, and Chelsea Cox. Receiving second honors were: Madeline Breski, Lenore Noe, Morgan Wawrzyniak, Carlie Bright, Daniel Firzgerald, Gina Majczak, Raffaele DiLullo, Emily Bailey, and Kaitlin Zapolski. Jacob Shaloiko and Chelsey Bielanin received honorable mention. Congratulations go out to all of them and to their parents and grandparents.

I’d like to thank and acknowledge those who help decorate our church so beautifully for Christmas: Ray and Judy Burkell, Sandy and Larry Benek, Gary Foster from the Rose of Sharon Shop, Bob Rocky from Stan’s Flower and Garden Center, Katie Anderson, Rachael Anderson, Lisa Anderson, Ashley Benek, and Alexandra Benek.

Here is a thought for the week. You are already on the winning path if you have picked yourself up, dusted away the setbacks and have started moving forward.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick

Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. A holy family is one where love and tenderness abound; where its members feel secure and confident; where they know that they are loved. The Feast of the Holy Family is not just about the Holy Family, but about our own families too. The main purpose of this Feast is to present the Holy Family as the model for all Christian families.

Our school’s Candlelight Christmas Pageant was a huge success. We have a very talented group of students who are not hesitant to sing or speak in public. The ability to speak and perform in front of a large audience will empower our students with the self-confidence they will need to compete and succeed in high school, college, and adult life. A special thank you goes out to Sr. Colette for being the director of this production and to Mrs. Clark and Mr. Kraus for their assistance with the music.

A parish thank you goes out to Mr. Jacob Malec who is the director of the fine arts program at Cathedral Prep for his willingness to lend us his personal keyboard and sound equipment for our use at the Christmas Eve Mass at St. James Place. Our sound system allows for only one microphone. Because the reader and cantor needed it at the pulpit, I did not have one at the altar or the presider’s chair. I’m grateful to Andrew Boyd for arranging for this and for hooking up all the equipment.

Our Parish Food Pantry recently received a generous donation from the Barber National Institute’s Employee Service Fund. A thank you goes out John J. Barber, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Barber National Institute, and to all the employees for their outstanding kindness to our parish, and in particular, our food bank clients.

The annual Pro-Life Prayer Breakfast will be held on Saturday, January 7th at the Bayfront Convention Center. the main speaker will be George Weigel, and expert on moral issues and public policy. Adult tickets are $13 and $7 for children 3 years old to 12. There is no charge for children under 3. For tickets or further information call 882-1333 or visit www. peopleforlife.org.

A huge thank you goes out to the St. James Choir for so beautifully enhancing our Christmas Eve Mass. The most famous choir in the U. S. is probably the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Running neck and neck and providing stiff competition for them is our own choir under the direction of Cyndie Johnson and Mary Jane Clark.

Here is a thought for the week. If your reputation is maybe undermined because you tried to do the right thing, then you did the right thing.

Pax et Bonum,

Fr. McCormick