School auction evokes old Cuban era

Once upon a time in the 1950s BC (Before Castro), Havana was home to fabulous nightclubs and tropical splendor. For those who missed that era, the St. Raphael Catholic School Annual Auction in February will recall those storied days of yesteryear.

Parishioners Cort and Sharon Taylor and their partners at the Mirror Lake Lyceum are making that elegantly restored 1926 setting available for this year's event on Friday, February 25. The Lyceum, with its hardwood floors, magnificent chandeliers and crystal and alabaster ornamentation, is a Mediterranean revival showplace.

It is an opportunity step back in time for a relaxing and fun-filled evening while helping St. Raphael Catholic School during its largest fundraiser. Individual tickets are $55 each and includes dinner and beer and wine. A Cuban Special package deal is offered for $130 and includes two tickets to the auction and a Poor Man's Raffle ticket. The Cuban Special is available until January 28.

The evening includes live and silent auctions. Among live auction items available so far are four tickets to the Florida Gators vs. Georgia Bulldogs game in October and a Pilot for a Day flight in a single-engine Piper Saratoga from Albert Whitted Airport.

Silent auction items include a tree climbing party using the kinds of harnesses and rope systems that explorers use to zip through the canopies of rain forests, and a BMW Toddler Racer II for toddlers up to 3 years of age.

The event has a Facebook event page and a Web site. Check each of them for more information about the fundraiser as it becomes available. The sites will be updated continually.

Organizers are still accepting donations of items for the auctions and event advertising and sponsorships. If you have an item for the auctions, please contact Jenn Taylor at jrtaylor24@gmail.com. If you would like help sponsor the event, please contact Heidi Sutton at hacsutton@gmail.com for more details.

Father Tim's homily – Baptism of the Lord

The Baptism of the Lord

The Baptism of Christ by Francesco Albani, painted 1630-35.

By Scott Hahn

Jesus presents himself for John's baptism in Sunday's Gospel – not because He is a sinner, but in obedience to God's design. He humbles himself, to take on the appearance of a sinner, so that we might be made righteous for God (see 2 Cor 5:21).

His baptism reveals that He is the Christ (literally, "anointed one") – the Spirit-endowed Servant promised by Isaiah in this Sunday's First Reading.

And his baptism marks the start of a new world, a new creation The Spirit descends upon Jesus, reminding us of the spirit that hovered like a dove ofver the face of the deep in creation (see Gen 1:2). As in the beginning, as the Jordan the Lord's majestic voice thunders above the waters.

As Peter preaches in Sunday's Second Reading, this baptism is a royal and priestly anointing. Through his anointing, Jesus is given the holy Spirit and power to fight the power of the devil.

He is revealed to be the fulfillment of God's preparations throughout Israel's history. He is "beloved son: give to Abraham (see Gen 22:2, 12, 26) and God's "first-born son," which is what He called Israel (see Exod 4:22-23). He is the divine son begotten by God, the everlasting heir promised to King David (see Psalm 2:7; 2 Sam 7:14). And he is, as Isaiah says, "a covenant of the people [Israel]" and "a light to the nations."

By his baptism he sanctified the waters of the Jordan and our baptismal watres. He opened the heavens to us and made it possible for he Spirit to be poured out upon us. In baptism, we are anointed with that same Spirit, mde beloved sons and daughters of God. Indeed, this is the meaning of Christians – literally "anointed ones."

We are the "sons of God" in this Sunday's Psalm – called to give glory to His name in His Temple. Let us pray that we always remain faithful to our calling as His children, that our Father might call us what he calls His Son – "my beloved ... in whom I am well pleased."

Dr. Scott Hahn is professor of theology at Franciscan University at Steubenville, Ohio. He was formerly a Presbyterian minister who converted to Catholicism in 1986. You can spend the day with Dr. Hahn on January 29 at Light of Christ Catholic Church in Clearwater. Lighthouse Catholic Media has many of his talks on CD or for download.

The Gospel this Sunday

January 9, 2010
The Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

Matthew 3:13-17

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan
to be baptized by him.
John tried to prevent him, saying,
“I need to be baptized by you,
and yet you are coming to me?”
Jesus said to him in reply,
“Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us
to fulfill all righteousness.”
Then he allowed him.
After Jesus was baptized,
he came up from the water and behold,
the heavens were opened for him,
and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove
and coming upon him.
And a voice came from the heavens, saying,
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”

• Read the first and second readings and the Responsorial Psalm

– United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Father Tim's homily – Epiphany of the Lord