SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

We live in an either-or world. Politics, the media, commerce, and popular culture seem to thrive on pitting one group against the other: young vs old, rich vs poor, conservative vs liberal, religious vs secular, and on and on. Even though truth often lies in the middle, those with a stake in promoting conflict aren't much interested in truth. This weekend's observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday provides us with a good vantage point for seeing a bigger picture than what the opinion makers of our day promote.

Was Dr. King a civil rights leader? Certainly. Did he promote non violent social change? Yes. Was he a Christian believer and pastor? Yes. Did he believe in the power of prayer to effect social change? Most certainly. Not either or, not two out of three, he was all of the above. And it is not easy to find leaders who integrate a social mission and personal devotion as he did.

Lewis Baldwin has written a book on Dr. King's prayer life, entitled Never To Leave Us Alone: The Prayer life of Martin Luther King, Jr. He makes the point that Dr. King's faith gave him the fortitude to endure racist persecution, political harassment and the constant threat of death: "the praying King made the activist King possible."

Dr. King was realistic about the depth of the social evils our nation faced and the price to be paid in reversing them. He did not advocate a "pray it away" approach, but he insisted that prayer is an essential dimension of social engagement and never just a secondary force in the quest for justice. It is a lesson that all of us and our leaders should follow. Too many look to politics alone to fix our problems. Others subscribe to a passive spirituality that expects God to solve our problems without our having to do much heavy lifting.

President Kennedy was fond of quoting St. Augustine to the effect that: we must work as if everything depends on us and pray as if it all depends on God. And that can never be an either-or choice. We are and must always be a "both-and" people. May the example of Dr. Kings' faith and activism inspire new generations of leaders and followers to put his vision into practice.      -Fr. Peter

MOTHER LANGE AWARDS
The 16th Annual Mother Mary Lange Awards Banquet sponsored by the Office of African-American Catholic Ministries, will be held on Friday evening, February 10, at Martin's West. Congratulations to this year's honorees from St. Wenceslaus:
Leadership Award     Leah Pressley
            Service Award           Loretha Pitts
            Youth Award              Jackie Powers
Tickets for the St. Wenceslaus tables are $55 each and can be ordered by calling the church office.

AFTERNOON AT THE RACES

The first of our 2012 fund raisers will be an Afternoon at the Races on Sunday, January 29, from 1:00 to 5:00 in the lyceum (come and feel the warmth from our new boiler!) Tickets are available in the church office at $11 each for a full racing card, dinner, hot dogs, beer and soda. The NFL pro bowl game will be shown on the movie screen between the races. Forms for purchasing horses are available in the back of the church. These are due back next Sunday.

BLACK CATHOLIC HISTORY EVENT

Sr. Reginald Gerdes, OSP will present a display and lecture on Black Catholic history in Maryland, focusing on the significance of the St. Ignatius Church Community to the Black Catholic Movement. The event will take place at St. Ignatius Church, Calvert Street at Madison, on Saturday, January 28, beginning with Mass at 4:30 pm. Sister Reginald's presentation will follow.

ARCHBISHOP'S ANNUAL APPEAL

The Annual Appeal for 2012 has begun. Many of you have received a letter from Archbishop O'Brien, asking that you make a pledge to this year's campaign. The Appeal funds the many ministries and services of the archdiocese which reach beyond the boundaries of our own parish. Twenty-five percent of funds raised come back to us. Pledges can be redeemed in ten monthly installments.

ST. MICHAEL'S BULL ROAST

CARDINAL O'BRIEN

On January 6 Pope Benedict XVI named Archbishop Edwin O'Brien to the College of Cardinals. As a cardinal he will serve as an advisor to the Pope and be eligible to vote in a papal election until his 80th birthday, in addition to his new position as Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher. The new cardinals will be installed at the Vatican on February 18. Cardinal-elect O'Brien remains as Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Baltimore until his successor is named.

DR. KING DAY JOB FAIR
It is not too late to take part in tomorrow's Job Fair at St. Frances Academy Community Center, 501 E. Chase St. All events are free, including continental breakfast, lunch and job readiness training. Doors open at 7:30 am. Morning sessions are devoted to job skills classes. In the afternoon employers will be conducting job interviews. A Red Cross Blood Drive will take place all day. Use the flyers in the back of the church for more information or to share with those in need of work.

PEACE WALK
On Thursday evening, January 26, Bishop Madden and the pastors and parishioners of our city parishes will conduct a Peace Walk at St. Ann's Church. Light refreshments will be served at 5:30 pm, followed by a walk to scenes of violence in the neighborhood, where all will pray for peace and the bishop will place a cross on the ground. The regularly scheduled Mass at 7:00 pm will follow.

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MASS INTENTIONS

READINGS NEXT SUNDAY

1st Reading	Jonah 3:1-5, 10
2nd Reading	1 Corinthians 7: 29-31
Gospel	Mark 1: 14-20

PRAYER REQUESTS
Please pray for our recently deceased members and friends, especially Cora Wilson whose funeral took place at St. Wenceslaus on January 9, Theresa Kelly, sister of Sylvester Middleton, and Shirley Wallace, sister of Alberta Jones.

PASTORAL COUNCIL MEETING
The Pastoral Council will meet on Tuesday evening, January 17, at 7:30 pm in the rectory. Please call the office if you are unable to attend.

FOOD PANTRY CLIENTS
Parishioners and neighbors are eligible to join our Outreach Center food program. During 2012 members will receive three bags of food each month at a cost of $30 for the year, payable in one or two installments. Call the church office at 410-675-7304 or the Outreach Center at 410-675-3320 for more information.

ADULT CONFIRMATION
Adult Catholics who never received the Sacrament of Confirmation are invited to take part in a celebration of the sacrament by Cardinal O'Brien at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen on Sunday, March 18. The parish will provide the required instruction and preparation. Please call Fr. Peter if you wish to be included in this celebration.

2011 TAX LETTERS
If you need a statement of church contributions for the 2011 calendar year for income tax purposes, please contact the church office.