Blessed are you among women

Transcription

1 D i v i n e M e r c y Pa r i s h Pa r i s h The Fourth Sunday of Advent December 23, 2018 Blessed are you among women Parish Office: Office Hours: 9:00-3:00 Sunday-Thursday SLOT.STPBoffice@gmail.com - oaklandcatholic.net Office/St. Lawrence Church 3725 High St. St. Paschal Church 3700 Dorisa Ave.

2 MEMORIES Throughout our lives, we retain the language and habits of our native region and family of origin. Should we return to our home after a long absence, we quickly revert to its familiar speech and practices. Our deep memory is reflected in old stories and words and speech patterns. This familiarity runs like an underground river and accompanies us wherever we go. Not only do we remember, we are incorporated into and made part of a greater memory. In remembering Divine Mercy Corner and recollecting, we are in turn gathered up and recollected. Today we remember Mary, a small figure travelling the country roads to visit Elizabeth. All the great pronouncements and dreams of the prophets point to this time when the Lord s words to Mary would be gathered and fulfilled. The memories of her people are alive in her, and memories of her nourish our own living faith. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. The Parables of Divine Mercy (cont.) By Robt. Stackpole, STD (Sep 30, 2005, thedivinemercy.org) The Parable of Lazarus and the Rich Man in Luke 16:19-31 also has its parallel in St. Matthew's gospel. The story about Lazarus shows us that unless we practice mercy ourselves, we shall not find mercy in the time of judgement. Thus, just as the parable concerning Lazarus is unique to the gospel according to St. Luke, so the Parable of the Sheep and the Goats is unique to St. Matthew's gospel, and yet both convey a similar message: "I was hungry and you gave me no food... Truly I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me" (Mt 25:31-46). On the other hand, for those who fail to practice mercy toward one another, God's mercy is always available to those who are truly contrite. Anyone who is able to say with the publican in our Lord's Parable of the Pharisee and the Publican, "Lord, have mercy on me a sinner," will come away "justified," that is, set right with God, restored to fellowship with Him and enriched with His grace (Lk 18:9-14). As we have seen, the message of God's merciful love permeates St. Luke's gospel. In addition, there is one particular section of the book that is generally known as the "parables of mercy," a cluster of parables in chapter 15 that are unique to this gospel, and which center upon the theme of Divine Mercy: the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Prodigal Son. In all three parables, what is "lost" is the sinner, because of his sins, and the one who finds him is the merciful Savior-God. These three parables, therefore, focus on one particular form of God's mercy, namely, His mercy that meets our needs for forgiveness and moral renewal. Let us look at two themes that are common to all three parables. First, in each one, Jesus emphasizes that He not only welcomes the penitent sinner back He actively goes out and seeks the sinner until He finds him. God is the "Hound of Heaven," so to speak. This comes out most clearly in the parable of the Lost Sheep (Lk 15:4-7): What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost, until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost." Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over the ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance. Commenting upon the parables in Luke 15, the great Jewish scholar C.G. Montefiore held strongly that these parables emphasize the one absolutely new thing that Jesus came to say. "The idea of a God who will invite the sinner back is not new; the idea of a God who will welcome the sinner back is not new; but the idea of a God who will go and seek for the sinner, and who wants men to do the same, is something completely new. Montefiore would therefore find the very center and soul and essence of the Christian gospel in Luke 15:1-10, in the story of the shepherd searching for the lost sheep, and the woman searching for the lost coin." (Rick Torretto, "St. Luke: The Gospel of Divine Mercy," in R. Stackpole, ed., Divine Mercy: The Heart of the Gospel, Marian Press, 1999.'

3 Mass Intentions 4:00 STPB Sat. Vigil, December 22 5:30 SLOT Carolina Hutton 8:30 STPB Sunday, December 23 10:30SLOT Mayla Rafael 1:00 SLOT People of the Parish Monday, December 24 8:30 SLOT John G. Rafael Tuesday, December 25 10:30 SLOT People of the Parish 8:30 STPB Wednesday, December 26 6:30 SLOT Margie Benavidez Thursday, December 27 9:00 SLOT Miro Dsmele Friday, December 28 8:30 SLOT Ursula Soublet 4:00 STPB Christmas Eve 4:00 STPB People of the Parish 6:00 SLOT People of the Parish 7:30 SLOT People of the Parish 10:00 SLOT People of the Parish Saturday, December 29 5:30 SLOT Irma Santos Sunday, December 30 8:30 STPB People of the Parish 10:30SLOT Juan & Delfina Dorlores 1:00 SLOT David Gonzalez Perez STEWARDSHIP Due to the early deadline for the Bulletin the Dec. 16th offerings will not be posted until the next bulletin. Please note: all checks for parish offering need to be pay to the order of Divine Mercy Parish starting December 26, Please call the office if you have any questions. Thank you for your generosity! Anointing of the Sick The next Anointing of the Sick and Mass is Saturday, January 5 11:00 a.m. All seniors, those who are ill, or anticipating surgery are invited to attend this Mass which includes the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. Mass Times Across U.S. Are you traveling for the holidays? If so, be sure to check out local Mass times at Masstimes.org Christ Child Shower Thank you for sharing your Christmas with others by providing gifts to Wisdom Path Day Care center for their developmentally delayed adults. May our Lord day care center. Please return all gifts with the tag attached to St. Paschal by this Sunday, Dec 16th.! Wanted: Digital pictures or videos Do you have photos from the Immaculate Conception & Tree Lighting on Dec. 7th or from the Our Lady of Guadalupe celebrations on Dec. 12th? If you captured the moment(s) please pictures or share Dropbox folders or drop off a thumb drive to the office c/o Vanessa: SLOT.STPBoffice@gmail.com or 3725 High St. Thank you!!! The BEST Catholic Content All in One Place: Movies, Books, Audio Programs, and Children Series. Watch, listen, all for free by going to our community page at oaklandcatholic.formed.org. Kids, check out Bro. Francis!

4 Readings for the Week Monday: 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16; Ps 89:2-5, 27, 29; Lk 1:67-79 Tuesday: Vigil: Is 62:1-5; Ps 89:4-5, 16-17, 27, 29; Acts 13:16-17, 22-25; Mt 1:1-25 [18-25] Night: Is 9:1-6; Ps 96:1-3, 11-13; Ti 2:11-14; Lk 2:1-14 Dawn: Is 62:11-12; Ps 97:1, 6, 11-12; Ti 3:4-7; Lk 2:15-20 Day: Is 52:7-10; Ps 98:1-6; Heb 1:1-6; Jn 1:1-18 [1-5, 9-14] Wednesday: Acts 6:8-10; 7:54-59; Ps 31:3cd-4, 6, 8ab, 16bc, 17; Mt 10:17-22 Thursday: 1Jn1:1-4;Ps 97:1-2,5-6,11-12; Jn 20:1a,2-8 Friday: 1 Jn 1:5-2:2; Ps 124:2-5, 7b-8; Mt 2:13-18 Saturday: 1 Jn 2:3-11; Ps 96:1-3, 5b-6; Lk 2:22-35 Sunday: Sir 3:2-6, or 1 Sm 1:20-22, 24-28; Ps 128:1-5 or Ps 84:2-3, 5-6, 9-10; Col 3:12-21 [12-17] or 1 Jn 3:1-2, 21-24; Lk 2:41-52 Saints and Special Observances Sunday: Fourth Sunday of Advent Monday: Vigil of Christmas Tuesday: The Nativity of the Lord (Christmas) Wednesday: St. Stephen; First Day of Kwanzaa Thursday: St. John Friday: The Holy Innocents Saturday: Fifth Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord; St. Thomas Becket.Pray for the Sick and Homebound: Betty Tully, Cathy Weaver, Angie Orante, Kathy Ditlefsen, Castora Vivit, Bob Dianda, Dakota Soublet, Norma Perry, Helen Cruz, Denise Sanford, Guadalupe Zaragoza, Felix Mba, Pamela Davis, Hernan Caceres, Veronica Chavez, Maria Sol Montel,Veronica Rodriguez, Luz Alejandra Bringas, Carolina Brizuela Perez, Rodolfo Arruabarrena, Robert & Barbara McNair, Marie Dezani, Rhea Rodgers, Anna Alberti, Claudia Blancher, Joanne Tornatore-Pili, Sue Ann Dunford, David Pantalone, Jonathan Pantalone, Marilyn Yager, Richard Selby, Scott Hall, Bill Slon, Kathie Slon, Helen Weber, Gustavo Caceres, and Carlos E. Mendez Pray for the Recently Departed: Maria Barajas + and Margaret Benavidez + Please note the prayers for the sick will be refreshed every three months. If anyone listed on Ministry to the Sick would like to receive Holy Communion at home, please contact Sister Mario at x104.

5 Mass Schedule St. Lawrence St. Cyril Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri 8:30 a.m. Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Vigil Saturday 5:30 p.m. & 7:00 p.m. (Vietnamese) Sunday 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m. (Spanish) St. Paschal Baylon Wednesday 8:30 a.m. 1st Friday 8:30 a.m. Vigil Saturday 4 p.m. and Sunday 8:30 a.m. Divine Mercy Devotion Wednesday 6:30 p.m. Mass & Devotion (St. Lawrence Church) Pray the Chaplet in song, Confessions, and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament BAPTISMS: Please contact the office to discuss the steps to Baptism for your children. We offer Baptism preparation classes in Spanish 1st Monday of the month; in English 2nd 7:00 p.m. MARRIAGE: Engaged couples should contact the pastor at least 6 months prior to desired wedding date. Marriage Preparation is required. BECOMING CATHOLIC (R.C.I.A.) Call or Fr. Brandon SACRAMENT OF PENANCE: Before Masses or Wednesday 7-8:00 p.m. at SLOT- SC or call the office for an appointment Contact Us! Rev. Brandon Macadaeg, Parochial Administrator x106; fr.macadaeg@gmail.com Rev. Luis Lopez, Parochial Vicar x102; luislopezsp@me.com Rev. Joseph Duong Phan, In Residence Ministry to the Homebound: Sr. Mario Raffaelli x104 Music Director: Enrico Banson, enricobansonmusic@gmail.com Facilities Coordinator: Dave Ratto slotfacilities@gmail.com Office Manager/Parish Secretary: Vanessa Barrett x105; slotvanessa@gmail.com St. Vincent de Paul Society: ; slotsvdp@gmail.com Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services: