Posted on Tue, Jan 01, 2013
The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, which is celebrated by Catholics in the United States on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8, marks the journey of the Magi to pay homage to the Holy Child Jesus. In Orthodox traditions, the traditional feast day (January 6) marks the celebration of the birth of Christ. In many cultures, the Epiphany marks a “little Christmas”, one celebrated with gift-giving and the sharing of special foods. No matter when or how it is celebrated, the Epiphany is steeped with meaning for those seeking enlightenment.
Download “5 Ways to Mark Three Kings Day” and use it to spark ideas for celebrating the Epiphany.
Posted on Sun, Dec 30, 2012
The weekly celebration of the Eucharist on Saturday evening or Sunday morning defines who we are as Catholics-- in out parishes, in our households of faith, in our neighborhoods, and in our world. Plan to spend time this week reflecting on the readings and preparing to celebrate the Eucharist. Gather in My Name offers "Question of the Week"- a free resource to incorporate the Sunday Eucharist into your religion classes, family discussions, or community activities.
Gather In My Name also provides questions on the readings for each Sunday and holy day liturgy. Activities for young people are included. Some materials for younger children can be printed out.
Question of the Week: What “signs” in your life have led you to Jesus?
Reading 1: Isaiah 60:1-6
Reading 2: Ephesians 3:2-3a, 5-6
Theme: Follow That Star!
Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
Looking for Whole Community Activities for the above Reading Reflections? Click here!
photo © iStockphoto
Posted on Mon, Dec 17, 2012
A Celebration of Epiphany is a a full multigenerational event from Gather In My Name that help participants:
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To understand the meaning of Epiphany as a manifestation of God in our midst through the person of Jesus Christ.
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To learn the different manifestations that are represented in the accounts of Christmas, the visit of the magi to the Christ child, the Baptism of the Lord, and the wedding feast at Cana, and how these relate to the threefold mission of Christ.
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To recognize Epiphany as a special time to support the work of the missions and to name a specific way to bring this supportive response into action.
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To explain the meaning of the word epiphany and how it applies to the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God.
Learn more about A Celebration of Epiphany parish event group options, handouts, team prayer, and more!
Posted on Wed, Jan 04, 2012
My husband, Ron, and I needed a trip to the mountains. Faced with some major changes in our lives, we needed to clear our heads by getting away from all that was familiar. There is nothing like the alpine air of the Colorado Rockies to do just that. As we wound our way up and down mountain passes, our conversation turned brighter and much more hopeful. The dead ends we seemed to be bumping into at home opened up and revealed themselves as avenues to something new and life-giving. By the end of the day, we had reached a level of clarity around the issues with which we were grappling.
The word “epiphany” comes from the Greek Epiphania, meaning “revelation.” The Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord, which is celebrated by Catholics in the United States on the Sunday between January 2 and January 8, marks the journey of the Magi to pay homage to the Holy Child Jesus. In Orthodox traditions, the traditional feast day (January 6) marks the celebration of the birth of Christ. In many cultures, the Epiphany marks a “little Christmas”, one celebrated with gift-giving and the sharing of special foods.
No matter when or how it is celebrated, the Epiphany is steeped with meaning for those seeking enlightenment. The image of three astrologers following a bright star across the darkened landscape is one of hope and promise. Their journey ends, not in a palace, but in a humble dwelling. Theirs is a story of surprise and wonder, of unexpected blessings and challenging encounters.
So it goes with the little epiphanies in our own lives. Often what is needed is a change of scenery, a stepping out into uncharted territory where we might find ourselves guided by nothing more than a sliver of light. It seemed to work that way for Ron and me as we traversed the Colorado mountains over the weekend. God’s grace shimmered around us as we came to terms with both the challenges and the blessings in our lives.
Bright Ideas
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One of the traditions associated with the Epiphany of the Lord is a blessing of the household. Download a prayer from the United States Catholic Bishops to use in your home.
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Make a batch of Epiphany bread and share it with your class or family.
photo © iStockphoto
Posted on Sun, Dec 04, 2011
The celebration of Epiphany was originally the feast of Christmas. In many cultures today this is when gift giving takes place. Decorations are not taken down until this feast is over. At Epiphany the Church celebrates the manifestation of the Son of God as the Savior and Messiah. The adoration of the Christ child by magi from the East represents the welcoming of the Good News of salvation by all nations.
Start preparing for the Feast of the Epiphany with Gather In My Name: A Celebration of Epiphany event.
Gather In My Name offers a full, multigenerational event for the celebration of Epiphany!
Objectives:
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To understand the meaning of Epiphany as a manifestation of God in our midst through the person of Jesus Christ.
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To learn the different manifestations that are represented in the accounts of Christmas, the visit of the magi to the Christ child, the Baptism of the Lord, and the wedding feast at Cana, and how these relate to the threefold mission of Christ.
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To recognize Epiphany as a special time to support the work of the missions and to name a specific way to bring this supportive response into action.
Faith Response:
Participants will be able to explain the meaning of the word epiphany and how it applies to the manifestation of Jesus as the Son of God.
To get more information about this Gather In My Name event, click here!
photo © iStockphoto