The Baptism of the Lord

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11; Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7; Luke 3:15-16, 21-22. Isaiah prophesies the Lord bringing peace and victory to Israel, and foretells the ministry of John the Baptist. Paul’s Letter to Titus reminds his listeners of the saving grace of God in Jesus Christ. In Luke’s Gospel, John the Baptist denies being the Messiah, and at the baptism of Jesus, the Holy Spirit Appears in the shape of a dove. God the Father’s voice is heard proclaiming Jesus as his beloved son.

 
 
耶穌受洗節 

今天的節日是紀念耶穌出外傳教之前在約旦河接受聖若翰給祂付洗，也就是顯示耶穌是天主的節日。耶穌本來沒有罪，不需受洗，但祂願意既然降生為猶太人，就接受猶太人的法律，遵守猶太人的風俗。 

耶穌藉着受洗，給我們建立了聖洗聖事。也吩咐宗徒們：「去教訓萬民，因父及子及聖神之名給他們付洗」。我們信、我們受了洗，原罪得以赦免，得到聖寵。因此，聖洗是我們一生中最重要的一日，我們的靈魂潔白無罪。一塊枯乾的土地要有水，才可讓植物生長出來，我們的靈魂因着聖洗的滋溉，能夠結出愛天主愛人的果實。可惜有時我們受了不良環境的引誘，或因為自私、貪婪、軟弱而犯罪，使我們領洗後潔白的靈魂蒙污。
 
我們應該時刻感謝天主給我們領洗的大恩，也求聖母幫助我們躲避犯罪的機會。聖經告訴我們，人人都有責任成為聖人，也可以成為聖人，祇要我們遵守天主的誡命，誠心依賴耶穌和聖母的幫助。 
今天的福音中，我們可以看到耶穌謙遜地和那些悔罪的人一起受洗。而若翰洗者也表示出謙遜的精神，從當日在約旦河的情景，人們很容易誤認他為默西亞，而他卻說連為耶穌解鞋帶都不配。謙遜真是我們基督徒不可少的德行啊！
 
 
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

This weekend, we celebrate the Lord’s Baptism, which reminds our own baptism. When we received baptism, we were born into new life in Christ and the beginning of our new life in the church. Baptism is one of the three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and the Eucharist. We all must be baptized into the Spirit of God to purify us for salvation. After Jesus was resurrected from death, he commanded his disciples to go out through all nations, proclaiming the Gospel, and baptizing people In the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.  

Today’s Gospel of Luke describes the beginning of Jesus’ public life as He steps into the Jordan River to be baptized by John the Baptist. Jesus is sinless and the Son of God. But He humbles himself to align with humanity. At the moment of Jesus’ baptism, God the Father reveals Jesus his Son, to all, in the voice from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Lk. 3:22). Through baptism, we born into the new life of the Son of God. We are called to imitate Jesus. In the baptismal rite, a prayer reminds us that it is Jesus who is king, priest, and prophet. We are called to live out the Christian way like Jesus: as king is to build up the kingdom of God on earth; as priest is to pray to God and pray for one another; and as prophet to witness and live the Gospel in our life.  

I have seen how our parish builds the kingdom of God throughout the Advent and Christmas season. St. Vincent de Paul prepared food and delivered to homeless people. Many of you donated socks and other items to be distributed to people in needs. We live our priesthood when asked you to donate poinsettias to decorate our church, and in turn we prayed for your loved ones. Also, when you sent out Christmas greetings, you included your prayers to the recipients. Our Christmas season is coming to an end, but we should continue to live the Christmas spirit, which is to live and evangelize the Gospel in our daily life.  

Let us make a resolution for this new year to be faithful to our baptismal call by volunteering in helping out the parish ministries and reaching out to those who are in need! 
Have a blessed week! 

Fr. Tho 
Pastor
 
Mass Intentions For The Week 

Sunday              January 12, 2025
 8:45     Maria Russo & Luigi Cirelli +
 10:15  David Toy & Tuey Lai Ng +
 12:00  Loriano & Anita Belluomini +
 5:00     For the People of Saints Peter and Paul 

Monday             January 13, 2025
 7:00     Ettorina Cardella & Family +
 9:00     The Birthday of Americo Sbragia +

Tuesday            January 14, 2025
 7:00     Angelo Sanguinetti +
 9:00     Louis DeNicolai + 

Wednesday    January 15, 2025
 7:00     Ettorina Cardella & Family +
 9:00     Joe Gabarino + – Intention Eva Muntean 

Thursday          January 16, 2025
 7:00     Anniversary of the Death of Antonia D’Ascoli +
 9:00     Francesco, Antoinette & Frank Germano + – Intention Dolores Meehan 

Friday                 January 17, 2025
 7:00     Edward Sabini +
 9:00     Barbara Vulpi + – Blanca Holmsten + 

Saturday          January 18, 2025
 7:30     Frank & Linda Machi +
 9:00     Joseph Maggiora & the Maggiora Family +
 5:00     For the People of Saints Peter and Paul

 
 
 
Particular Items 

玫瑰經 Chinese Apostolate First Sunday Rosary: The Apostolate meets every first Sunday of the month, following the 10:15 AM Mass, to pray the Rosary in the Don Bosco Room. 

Eucharistic Adoration & Confession/ Anointing of the Sick: We have Adoration & Confession every Friday, following the 7:00 AM Mass. And on the first Friday of the month we have the Anointing following the 7:00 AM Mass. 

January, The month of Salesian Saints! January is a month loaded with our Salesian Saints. On January 22, Holy Mother Church celebrated the Blessed Laura Vicuña, patroness of our Pre-K. On January 24, we celebrate St. Francis de Sales, Patron of the Salesians. And on January 31, we celebrate the Feast of Don Bosco himself. Salesian Saints, pray for us! 

Don Bosco Study Group: The Don Bosco Study Group will meet by Zoom at 4pm, Tuesday, January 21. We will discuss “Silence” by Shusaku Endo and be led by Bill McCarty. Martin Scorsese directed the third adaption of this historical drama into film, so if you do not get a chance to read the book, enjoy the movie. We will also discuss Chapter 5 of our “Parables” book. For more info or zoom login info, email [email protected] 

Choose Life! Walk for Life West Coast 2025: Join fellow Catholics and Pro‐Lifers of every and no faith from all over California and beyond as we stand up for the littlest among us at the 21st Annual Walk for Life West Coast in San Francisco on January 25, 2025. There will be Mass at 9:30AM at St. Mary’s Cathedral . The rally begins at 12:30PM in San Francisco’s Civic Center Plaza, and the Walk, down Market Street, begins at 1:30PM. Last year’s Walk drew tens of thousands of people. For complete information about the Walk, visit walkforlifewc.com or call 415‐658‐1793.

Saints Peter and Paul Salesian School & Pre-K Accepting Applications: Our K-8 Salesian school is accepting applications for this year and next. Please email Dr. Lisa Harris at the school at [email protected], or Barbara Simons at the Pre-K at [email protected] to learn more! 

Sponsor a Student! We are receiving more request for financial aid than ever before. We invite financially able parishioners to help with this ministry. Please call Fr. Tho or Dr. Harris. 

Jubilee Year of Hope! On December 24, Pope Francis opened the Holy Year of Hope. Here are some thoughts from his Papal Bull SPES NON CONFUNDIT. (Hope does not Disappoint) “4. Saint Paul is a realist. He knows that life has its joys and sorrows, that love is tested amid trials, and that hope can falter in the face of suffering. Even so, he can write: ‘We boast in our sufferings, 3 knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope’ (Rom 5:3-4). For the Apostle, trials and tribulations mark the lives of those who preach the Gospel amid incomprehension and persecution (cf. 2 Cor 6:3-10). Yet in those very contexts, beyond the darkness we glimpse a light: we come to realize that evangelization is sustained by the power flowing from Christ’s cross and resurrection. In this way, we learn to practice a virtue closely linked to hope, namely patience. In our fast-paced world, we are used to wanting everything now. We no longer have time simply to be with others; even families find it hard to get together and enjoy one another’s company. Patience has been put to flight by frenetic haste, and this has proved detrimental, since it leads to impatience, anxiety and even gratuitous violence, resulting in more unhappiness and self-centerdness” Full copies of the document are on the tables.




 Our Centennial Celebration and Jubilee Year has begun! On November 9-10, 2024 we began the 100 Year Anniversary of Saints Peter and Paul Church.   What a great weekend! The Masses and the Renewal of Wedding Vows were holy and beautiful; both the Saturday and Sunday receptions were packed; the food was great, and the grace of God touched all! Go here for links to photos and videos. 
  
Remember, though, the Jubilee Celebration is for the whole year—see the indulgence granted to us by the Vatican at left! Let us take this year to gratefully reflect on the gifts given to us by God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; to honor those who have come before us, and to preserve our faith and our Church for our posterity!   
  

Guess Who?

Who are they?
  
Can you recognize this week’s lovely mystery married couple? 
 
Last week’s couple were David & Stella Cosenza, married here in 1952.  

Want to see more SSPP married couples? Go here, and you can find our full slideshow.  
  
  
 
 
 JUBILEE PLENARY INDULGENCE

On the Occasion of the Jubilee Celebration of the 100th Anniversary of the Church.
The Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome, charged with the granting of indulgences, has designated Saints Peter and Paul Church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, California as a Vatican recognized site for Plenary Indulgence and has granted a Plenary Indulgence to the faithful who truly repent and are driven by charity under these certain conditions from November 1, 2024 until November 1, 2025. A Plenary Indulgence may also apply, through the faithful’s own sufferings, to the Souls in Purgatory. 
     
WHAT IS A PLENARY INDULGENCE? 
 An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment for sin the guilt of which is already forgiven, which a properly disposed member of the Christian faithful obtains under certain conditions with the help of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies authoritatively the treasure of the satisfaction of Christ and the saints. Code of canon Law (can. 992). A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in a state of grace, have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin.  
You can download a flyer here on how to obtain this wonderful spiritual gift!    
 
Catholic Medical Care right in our Parish! Bella Primary Care offers primary & pediatric healthcare in accordance with Catholic principles. They are located at 2000 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 304, in San Francisco. Now scheduling appointments for: 
PEDIATRICS: Wellness visits for ages 6 months to 18 years with our pro-life pediatrician Dr. Virginia Schneider.
WOMEN and MEN: Comprehensive annual exam.
EXPECTANT MOMS: Pregnancy verification, initial ultrasound and blood work.
FERTILITY: Initial and follow-up appointments using natural fertility assessment methods. 
For appointments, call 415-775-1500 or email our office at [email protected].  We look forward to caring for your families in a Christ-centered way! 

Liturgical Calendar
Sunday               12          The Baptism of the Lord
Monday              13          Hilary; Bishop, Doctor
Tuesday             14          Weekday in Ordinary Time
Wednesday        15          Weekday in Ordinary Time
Thursday           16          Weekday in Ordinary Time
Friday                 17          Anthony; Abbot
Saturday            18          Commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary
 Sunday              19          The Second Sunday in Ordinary Time 

Your gifts of December 22, 25, & 29, and January 5 will be published in next week’s bulletin. 
Weekly Goal:  $8,670. 

We are always in shortfall. Fr. Tho asks for your help Please consider donating an amount equal to a breakfast or lunch or movie ticket.  Thank you! Your parish appreciates your continued support!