ECHO 232 was postponed until April due to a lack of candidates. Life is busy for all but if your ECHO brought you closer to Jesus; if you believe that He is present in you and others you meet, how can you not reach out and share that Joy and peace with others. Is it any wonder that there are so many lonely, searching teenagers! You know that they will discover a life long Friend, Jesus, Who will walk the journey of life with them; will always be there to support them. Have we become so selfish we can’t share the gift of ECHO! Remember the inscription on the cross you received “Christ is Counting on You”

ECHO 233 will begin on Friday, Jan. 9th and the closing will be held at Our Lady of Victory Church in Centerville on Sunday Jan. 11th at 7 p.m. Plan to support the team and candidates with your palanca. Once again we remind you that palanca means prayer and sacrifice, the lifting of our hearts and minds to Jesus asking Him to touch the hearts
of the candidates and fill them with His Spirit. The Palanca Room is located in the Recreation Building on Main Street, Centerville and is open from 6:30 to 9p.m. Friday, and Saturday from 10a.m. - 8p.m. The Palanca Room is not open on Sunday. Please make sure all Palanca is there by 7p.m. Saturday so it can be sorted. Palanca may not be delivered by sponsors or family to Craigville.

The Palanca Room for this weekend will be run by Emily Wright and Ashley Marcotte. Please support them with your prayers and presence.
The theme for the weekend “I Hope You Dance”” is from the song by Leann Womak. Please plan to join the young women of ECHO 233 as they celebrate the gift of Jesus in their lives:

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean
Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance ----- I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livn’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’
Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance ...... I hope you dance.......
I hope you dance.............I hope you dance

Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along.
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean

Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens

Promise me that you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance

ECHO 233: Rectora : Cathy Carpenter, Inside Ass't: Judy Perella, Outside Ass't: Kathy Porkka, Spiritual Directors: Fr. Tom Frechette, Fr. David Frederici, Deacon Jim Barrett, Ideals: Erin Harmon, Paschal Mystery: Fr. Tom Witness to Paschal Mystery: Ashlee McGuire Penance: Deacon Jim, Witness to Penance: Brianna Murphy Community of Love: Ann Everson Piety: Courtney Higgins, Choosing a Christian Life: Kathy Collings, Signs and Communications: Fr. David, Marriage: Kevin and Mary Ann Smyth-Hammond, Christ the Man, Christ in Man: Susan Anderson, People of God: Lori Allen, Confidence in Christ: Stephanie Jones Christian in Action: Sarah Fuller, Fourth Day: Cathy Carpenter

Crosses for ECHO 233 have been donated by the Goveia family in memory of Dick Paradise and Rita Goveia.

Candidates: Barnstable: Gia Porcaro, Janelle Giblin, Ashley McEvoy, Shannon Cunningham, Alisha Phipps, Jillian Klotz, Anne Serafin, Katie McLean D-Y: Samantha Levesque Bourne: Sarah Albright

Bumper Stickers : vinyl static cling “Echo of Cape Cod” car window stickers are available in the Palanca Room and at reunions $2. Let's show our Echo Spirit!! They make great palanca to send to team and candidates.

Community News:

Sean Hanson : We received a wonderful thank you letter from Tiffany Hanson and family for all our prayers and support for Sean during his recent surgery. Mom included some wonderful pictures of Sean on the helicopter flight to New York . They will appear on our web page http://www.echoofcapecod.org shortly and a copy of the Hanson letter will be on our e-mail. Please continue to pray for Sean

Ann Burchell : Sent her thanks for the prayers, cards and meals sent her way following her recent surgery. Expect to see her up and around attending reunions. She is such a special lady who does so much for ECHO.

Bowling : A recent effort to revive the Wednesday night bowling had four dedicated bowlers. Perhaps after the holidays there will be renewed interest.

Youth Board: will meet on Sunday Jan. 4th at the Centerville Community Building from 3 – 5 p.m. to prepare for the ECHO weekend.

Reunions: Tuesday 7p.m at Christ the King; Thursday 7:30p.m.at OLV. Make a New Year's Resolution to attend at least one reunion this month.

ECHO WEEKENDS: Feb. 6 –8 Boys, Mar. 5 – 7 Girls, Apr. 2 – 3 Boys. Get those applications in now!

Prayers: for Doug Rodrigues, Sean Hanson, Ann Burchell and Dan Green who was in a serious car accident, for Cathy Carpenter and her team, for all men in the armed services that God will continue to guide and protect them, for their families, for all those suffering from alcohol and drug abuse, for those who have no one to pray for them, for all priests, and for all who have returned to the Father especially Dick Paradise, Rita Goveia, Cheryl Ryan's Uncle and David Ryan's Grandmother.

Remember Tuesday is ECHO Prayer day .

NEW YEAR'S Reflection: As we put away the Christmas tree and decorations I leave you with this Nativity reflection from the German mystic Silesius: “Although Jesus was born in Bethlehem , that birth will be of no avail to us unless He is born into our hearts.”

May His love be reborn in your hearts and shine before others in this new year.

Spotlight the Board:

Cathy Carpenter. The Rectora for Echo 233 is in our spotlight this month. Many of you know Cathy from her long time position managing the kitchen at the Craigville Conference Center . She now works full time as parish secretary at Our Lady of Victory. Cathy lived her first Echo in 1975 on Echo 59 and she has been involved ever since. Cathy resides in Centerville; is a proud mother and grandmother and a co director of the Wings discussions group at OLV.

A Blessed, Happy, Healthy New Year to you all!