Eighth Sunday Ordinary Time - March 3, 2019

Transcription

1 Eighth Sunday Ordinary Time - March 3, Addison Street, Berkeley, CA Phone (510) Fax (510) info@stjosephtheworkerchurch.org STAFF Rev. Kenneth Nobrega Deacon José Manuel Pérez, Permanent Deacon Gloria Maldonado, Parish Secretary, Safe Environment Coordinator Elizabeth Oishi Comly, Parish Events Coordinator MONDAY-FRIDAY Mass: 12:15 pm SUNDAY Mass: 8:00 am Confessions: 9:45 am Mass: 10:00 am Mass: (Spanish) 11:30 am WEDNESDAY EVENING Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament: 6:00 pm 7:00 pm Confessions: 6:00 pm 6:45 pm MINISTRIES Baptism/Bautismos Deacon José Manuel Pérez Platicas: Los domingos. Para otro dia llamar a la oficina. Lectors/Lectores Chris Notti (English) Erika Guerrero (Español) Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion Tita Brodt (English) Ruben Araujo (Español) PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday thru Friday 9:00 am 5:00 pm (Closed 12 Noon 1:00 pm for lunch)

2 + + St. Joseph the Worker Beautiful Liturgy - Reconciliation - Healing THIS WEEK AT ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER March 6, 2019 Ash Wednesday Mass Schedule 12:15pm 6:00pm 7:30pm (Spanish) Sant Egidio Community The Community of Sant Egidio meets every Thursday at 7:00 pm for prayer in our church chapel. All are invited to join for prayer and for some Christian fellowship. NOTE: Due to our Ash Wednesday Schedule, we will resume our normal Wednesday Evening Holy Hour, Confessions & Rosary gathering on Wednesday, March 13th. Holy Hour, Confessions and Rosary Prayer Group Every Wednesday evening we have Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament from 6:00 7:00 pm with Confessions available from 6:00 6:45 pm. The Rosary & Devotion Prayer Group meets at 7:00 pm, following the Holy Hour. All are welcome. SUNDAY MASSES - March 3, :00 am Fr. John Gribowich 10:00 am Fr. Bruce Lamb 11:30 am (Spanish) - Francisco Figueroa - Esquer Sunday 8:00 am 10:00 am 11:30 am Monday 9:00 am Tuesday 9:00 am Wednesday 12:15 pm 6:00 pm Thursday 12:15 pm Friday 12:15 pm MASS INTENTIONS March 3rd Nieves Ramirez + Nihara Gregory Ministerios del viñedo de Raquel March 4th Rachel s Vineyard Retreats Ministry March 5th Steven Strid March 6th Harry Granadillo + Maya Grady Family March 7th Edward Price + March 8th Euclide M. Capria + Would you like to have a Mass offered in honor or memory of someone? It is easy, stop by our parish office or Gloria Maldonado, our parish secretary at: gloria@stjosephtheworkerchurch.org If you have a particular date in mind, let us know and we will try and accommodate you. The suggested donation is $ Need A New Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation or Marriage Certificate? Sacramental certificates from St. Joseph the Worker can be obtained from our parish office usually within one or two business days. We kindly ask for a $25 donation for each requested certificate which will go towards the support of St. Joseph the Worker Church. Please contact Gloria Maldonado our parish secretary at (510) or gloria@stjosephtheworkerchurch.org

3 Dear Visitors and Guests: If you have been blessed by your visit to St. Joseph, please consider blessing our parish with a gift. Through generous donations by faithful people like yourself, we intend on restoring this historic church back to its former glory, little by little. You can make a safe, fast and easy one (1) time donation or a recurring donation with the ease of your smart phone through PUSHPAY. Follow these steps below: Step 1) Enter the number: Step 2) Enter the letters SJW in the message section. A Sacred time for Holy Preparation New Weekday Mass Schedule Starting on Ash Wednesday, March 6, 2019 Starting on Ash Wednesday, our weekday Mass schedule will be 12:15pm Monday thru Friday in the Church replacing our current Chapel weekday Mass schedule. From personal experience, I find it crucial to arrive at least 10 minutes before the start of Mass in order to decompress from the busyness of life and to quiet down the mind from worldly cares in order to properly focus on God and the Sacred Mysteries we are about to enter. Please do not arrive late to Mass. Thank you. - Fr. Kenneth Nobrega Illuminate our church with devotion and prayers. We believe because of current local demographics and a growing interest in our parish that our new schedule change will allow for a greater number of persons the ability to attend a simple, reverent "lunch time" Mass at St. Joseph. As part of our ongoing parish renewal, we plan with the support and commitment of our parishioners and the local Catholic community to begin offering Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament following the 12:15pm Mass in the near future. Mass Schedule starting Ash Wednesday Monday thru Friday: 12:15pm Saturday: Baptism Masses, Memorial Masses, XV Masses, Weddings, Special Masses Sunday: 8:00, 10:00am,11:30am (Spanish) Your votive candle is a silent but visible sign of prayer and devotion.

4 "Its Training Time" Today s readings exhort us Christian disciples to form ourselves mind and heart in imitation of Christ so we can better reflect His goodness in our daily lives. The first reading from Sirach offers timeless counsel: the fruit of a tree shows the care it has had: so too does one s speech disclose the bent of one s mind. Praise no one before he speaks. Jesus uses the very same analogy in today s Gospel reading from Luke. A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. Jesus explains, A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. Everything we have is a gift from God to be used for His honor and glory. This includes the gift of speech and, even more broadly, all forms of modern-day communication , text, Twitter, Facebook and the rest. What comes forth from our mouths, or keyboard, or phone, is a reflection of what is in our minds and hearts. Our ability to communicate with each other is itself a gift that we as Christians must do well. How do we obtain this training? Thankfully, we have an abundance of supernatural training materials at our disposal. First and foremost, we can spend time with the Teacher, our Lord: we can study His life through reading the Scriptures, and we can meditate on the life of Jesus through our daily rosary, and we can listen and speak with Him in quiet, regular times of prayer especially before the Lord present in the Blessed Sacrament. We can expand our faith knowledge through study of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We can find healing and strength in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Amazingly, we can partake of His Body and Blood in the Eucharist. Importantly we must be discerning and very careful about the things we view, listen to and read, which can impact our minds and hearts spiritually - Blessed are the clean of heart, for they will see God. The more intentionally and frequently we make use of these means, the more we will become like our Teacher and Lord. Then, all that we do and say (and tweet and post) will bring others closer to Him. This is the life s work of the Christian disciple. A Prayer to Heal Stress Heavenly Father, please grant me peace of mind and calm my troubled heart. My soul is like a turbulent sea. I can t seem to find my balance so I stumble and worry constantly. Give me the strength and clarity of mind to find my purpose and walk the path you ve laid out for me. I trust your Love God, and know that you will heal this stress. Just as the sun rises each day against the dark of night. Please bring me clarity with the light of God. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

5 How Much Should I give? Many people recommend that Catholics consider working toward biblical tithing: 10% of your gross income. Fr. Kenneth Nobrega supports and recommends the venerable practice of tithing 5% to the parish church and 5% to worthy charities. Why Light a Votive Candle? A Votive Light is a "silent sentinel" and can burn for your special intentions or for someone who is in need of prayers. This is a thoughtful expression of your sentiments and best wishes for any occasion. Your Votive Light can be an act of faith and charity - the light is a symbol of the sacrifice you have made in behalf of someone else - and it is a silent reminder of your prayers for them. Unlike a regular purchase, a votive candle donation is an "offering" made to God through the intercession of the Saints which also helps support our St. Joseph the Worker Church's mission of beautiful liturgies, reconciliation and healing. Your prayerful votive offerings are "lighting up" our church with beauty and prayer. Thank you, and may God bless you. Please Contribute as much as possible to the material needs of St. Joseph the Worker so that we can continue to keep our doors open and be a refuge for those seeking spiritual help and healing. Your help in needed and important - Together we can restore our beautiful church to its original glory. Donate to St. Joseph the Worker TEXT: Safe, Fast, Easy. Thank you! joinfortify.com Parish Office Hours Gloria Maldonado, our office secretary is ready to welcome and assist our parishioners and visitors. St. Joseph the Worker Parish Office Hours are from Monday thru Friday 9:00am to 6:00pm (closed noon to 1:00pm for lunch).

6 Has an abortion left you with a broken heart? Experience the healing... V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, The Lord is with Thee; Blessed art thou among women, And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Pray for us sinners, Now and at the hour of our death. Amen V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord. R. Be it done unto me according to thy word. Hail Mary, etc. V. And the Word was made Flesh. R. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary, etc. V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ. LET US PRAY Pour forth, we beseech Thee, O Lord, Thy grace into our hearts, that we to whom the Incarnation of Christ Thy Son was made known by the message of an angel, may by His Passion and Cross be brought to the glory of His Resurrection. Through the same Christ Our Lord. Amen His Most Sacred Heart transforms May 17-19, 2019 Rachel s Vineyard is a safe place to renew, rebuild and redeem hearts broken by abortion. The weekend offers a supportive, and non-judgmental environment to transform the pain of the past into love and hope. We encourage women, men and couples to attend. SPACE IS LIMITED. SIGN UP NOW. For Retreat Details Contact: Gloria Maldonado: afterthechoice@oakdioadmin.org or Kim Fuentes: kfuentes@stocktondiocese.org or The Diocese of Oakland in collaboration with the Diocese of Stockton Project Rachel. For information and testimonies about Rachel s Vineyard retreats, visit: OUR CHOIR NEEDS MORE SINGERS! Our sins into its opposite - Love. Do you enjoy and sing well? Did you sing in a church, school or university choir? Call Sam Dorlaque at (510) or him at spdorlaque@sbcglobal.net for more information.

7 How to Prepare for Lent - Vinita Hampton Wright How do I want to be during Lent this year? More quiet and thoughtful? More open to God s desires? Better able to sit with people who need me? More attentive to sacred readings, whether in church or in private? Do I need to be more compassionate toward my own fears and failings? Do I need to become more courageous about using the gifts God has given me? In the days prior to Lent, try one or more of these suggestions. How do you prepare for Lent? How have you prepared in the past? What are your ideas about what should happen during Lent? We have the traditional Catholic practices of praying, fasting, and almsgiving. So, we pray more than usual, or we pray with different emphases. We eat smaller or fewer meals or give up a favorite food or drink group. We give more of our resources or give them specifically to special works of mercy during Lent. Prayer, fasting, and charitable giving continue to be quite good practices during Lent or at any time. But, you might think, how do I prepare myself for this season? What needs to happen within so that I can practice with more integrity and intention whatever I m doing on the outside? There are plenty of ideas for actions and practices during Lent; coming up with ideas usually is not the problem. But we don t want to do anything simply to be doing it, even if it s a good thing. We don t want to make a list of merciful works so that we can place a checkmark beside each one as we accomplish it. It s good to have a plan for doing. It s also good to have a plan for being. Ask God, every day, What does my soul need? Just ask, and wait quietly. Because we re very good at fooling ourselves about how we re doing, it might take several days of praying this question before we re truly open and humble enough to know the answer. Ask God, every day, What about my life makes you happy? Yes, when God looks at your life, some parts of it perhaps many aspects of it bring joy to God s heart. Think of how your children or grandchildren or other people close to you make you happy. God is in relationship with you, which means that your sins grieve God s heart, but also that your growth and love and freedom and kindness bring joy to God of the universe. Again, you will probably need to pray this a few times before you are willing to consider that you give God pleasure, that you make God happy in any way. Stick with this little prayer and keep listening. Tell God, and yourself, every day, I want to be open to the graces of this Lenten season. Maybe you re not open right now, or you re not as open and willing as you d like to be or think you should be. What else is new? We can always open our lives a bit more, let go of more stuff, listen better, and do more quickly and passionately what we know helps nurture God s kingdom on earth. This is a beginning: three short and simple prayer starters to ready yourself for the holy season.

8 Questions and Answers about Lent and Lenten Practices made from animal fat are technically not forbidden. However, moral theologians have traditionally taught that we should abstain from all animal-derived products (except foods such as gelatin, butter, cheese and eggs, which do not have any meat taste). Fish are a different category of animal. Salt and freshwater species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, (cold-blooded animals) and shellfish are permitted. Q. Why do we say that there are forty days of Lent? When you count all the days from Ash Wednesday through Holy Saturday, there are 46. A. It might be more accurate to say that there is the "forty day fast within Lent." Historically, Lent has varied from a week to three weeks to the present configuration of 46 days. The forty day fast, however, has been more stable. The Sundays of Lent are certainly part of the Time of Lent, but they are not prescribed days of fast and abstinence. Q. I've noticed that restaurants and grocery stores advertise specials on expensive types of fish and seafood on Fridays during Lent. Some of my Catholic friends take advantage of these deals, but somehow I don't feel right treating myself to the lobster special on Fridays during Lent. Q. So does that mean that when we give something up for Lent, such as candy, we can have it on Sundays? A. Apart from the prescribed days of fast and abstinence on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, and the days of abstinence every Friday of Lent, Catholics have traditionally chosen additional penitential practices for the whole Time of Lent. These practices are disciplinary in nature and often more effective if they are continuous, i.e., kept on Sundays as well. That being said, such practices are not regulated by the Church, but by individual conscience. Q. I understand that all the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat, but I'm not sure what is classified as meat. Does meat include chicken and dairy products? A. Abstinence laws consider that meat comes only from animals such as chickens, cows, sheep or pigs --- all of which live on land. Birds are also considered meat. Abstinence does not include meat juices and liquid foods made from meat. Thus, such foods as chicken broth, consomme, soups cooked or flavored with meat, meat gravies or sauces, as well as seasonings or condiments A. While fish, lobster and other shellfish are not considered meat and can be consumed on days of abstinence, indulging in the lavish buffet at your favorite seafood place sort of misses the point. Abstaining from meat and other indulgences during Lent is a penitential practice. On the Fridays of Lent, we remember the sacrifice of Christ on Good Friday and unite ourselves with that sacrifice through abstinence and prayer. Q. I understand that Catholics ages 18 to 59 should fast on Ash Wednesday and on Good Friday, but what exactly are the rules for these fasts? A. Fasting on these days means we can have only one full, meatless meal. Some food can be taken at the other regular meal times if necessary, but combined they should be less than a full meal. Liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals. Q. Are there exemptions other than for age from the requirement to fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday? A. Those that are excused from fast and abstinence outside the age limits include the physically or mentally ill including individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes. Also excluded are pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail, and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting Addison Street, Berkeley, CA Phone: (510) Fax: (510) info@stjosephtheworkerchurch.org