Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36

Transcription

1 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. Luke 6:36 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time February 24, 2019 Divine Mercy Catholic Church 2231 Club Center Drive, Sacramento, CA Tel: (916) Office Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 am-4:00 pm Look Inside for: PASTOR Rev. Soane Kaniseli Deacon Rick Morales Deacon James Ogbonna Sacraments and Rosaries Sacrament of Penance Saturday 3:45-4:45 PM By Appointment Call the Parish Ofc Appeal Weekend is March 2-3! See bulletin insert for details! Join Us! First Friday Adoration Friday, March 1st. See Pg. 3 kaniseli@gmail.com Mass Schedule Saturday Vigil Mass 5:00 PM Sunday Mass 7:30 AM 9:30 AM 12:30 PM Sacrament of Baptism Every 3rd Saturday of the month at 10:00 AM or within the Mass (in some special cases to be determined by the Pastor). Please contact the Parish Office to talk with the Pastor 2 months before the Baptism day. Youth Mass 5:00 PM Every 1st Sunday of the Month followed by Eucharistic Adoration Spanish Mass Every 2nd Sunday of the Month 5:00 PM Sacrament of Matrimony Please contact the Parish Office to talk with the Pastor 6 months before the wedding day. Filipino Mass Every 3rd Sunday of the month 5:00 PM Anointing of the Sick Please call the Parish Office. Rosary English: 30 mins before every Mass Spanish: Thursdays at 7:00 PM Chaplet of Divine Mercy Immediately after every Mass WEEKDAY MASSES Mon - Wed - Fri 6:30 PM Tue - Thur - Sat 8:30 AM Every Friday Holy Hour 3-6 PM (Blessed Sacrament Exposed) First Friday Morning Mass 8:30 AM Exposition* 9:00 AM Benediction 5:45 PM Evening Mass 6:30 PM *Hourly Adorers needed during Exposition March 3rd at 5:00 pm MISSION STATEMENT ~ To establish a faith-filled community bonded by love. To proclaim the good news, foster personal encounters with the living Christ and strengthen the family by witnessing the gospel values of love, mercy, justice, forgiveness and service to all.

2 Page 2 A Word From... Love Your Enemies A Bulletin Reflection By Deacon James As I was reflecting on today s readings, two Civil Rights Activists came to mind, Mahatma Gandhi and Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. In the 1950 s Mahatma Gandhi of India became well known for using a non-violent approach to India s quest for independence from Britain. In the 1960 s, Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., advocated for Civil Rights in the United States. Both were undaunted by obstacles, hatred, insults, criticism or contempt as they worked to promote freedom, equality and human rights in their societies. Central to our message today are the ideals that both Gandhi and King paid for with their lives. They walked into antagonism with love. They were passive in their approach to those who cursed and mistreated them. Their achievements were hard won by using non-violent methods to oppose hatred and injustice. There is no doubt that Gandhi and Reverend King embraced Jesus s commandment, Luke 6:27-28, To you who hear I say, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. We should lend our ears to Christ s message as well. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is telling us not to mirror the behaviors of the ungrateful and the wicked but treat them as God wants us to treat them; with forgiveness, love, kindness and mercy. In 1 Samuel, our first reading today, we find Saul in the desert of Ziph searching for his enemy, David. Saul had been on a quest to kill David because he detested the thought that God would have David replace him as King of Israel. When David finds Saul s army sleeping, he rejects his companion s suggestion to drive a spear through Saul s heart. Instead David spares Saul s life. David exercises forgiveness and shares his love for the will of God. As we read in 1 Samuel 26:23, David tells Saul, The LORD repays everyone s righteousness and faithfulness. Although the LORD delivered you into my hands today, I could not lay a hand on the LORD s anointed. You may agree that David had good reason to put an end to Saul, but he chose the way of forgiveness. David s love for God was greater than his desire to take revenge and he extended that love to his enemy Saul. David s encounter with Saul is an example of the love that Jesus talks about in our Gospel reading today. David wrote Psalm #103, today s Responsorial Psalm, after he became King. This song illustrates God s endless, kind and merciful fatherly love. David praises God s graciousness. God is forgiving. We should be forgiving too. In St Paul s first letter to the Corinthians 15:49, today s second reading, we are advised to mirror the image of the Prince of Peace, modeling our behaviors after Jesus s. My brothers and sisters, there is no doubt that Christ s commandment, to love one another as he has loved us, might be difficult to accept and do. Really, when was the last time you blessed those who insulted you, undermined you, betrayed you or gossiped about you? Have you prayed for your enemies such as our Lord did when he begged his Father to forgive them at the crucifixion? By Christ s example and direction we know that we are to love our neighbors and enemies. And in doing so we are demonstrating our love for God. In two weeks, we will be entering the Lenten Season. As followers of Christ, we are to love all people, including those who have transgressed against us and those we consider our enemies. Jesus modeled this kind of love for us when violence and hatred were directed toward him during his ministry and as he was mocked and put to death. What did he do? He prayed for grace, he prayed for the courage to do the will of his Father, and he prayed for the forgiveness of his enemies. Christ understands that we cannot meet the requirements he has placed before us without his grace. And what should we do? Pray. Lenten Season may be an excellent opportunity to practice a continual habit of scheduling time in prayer. Our modern examples of instantaneous revenge and retaliation are frequently breaking news. It s our time to be the new example of Christ s message and show our love for one another. We must pray for grace to forgive those who have mistreated us, despised us, harmed us, hurt our feelings or betrayed us; those we see as our enemies. Jesus, as well as Mahatma Gandhi and Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr. used a non-violent approach in loving his enemies. As we follow Jesus, if loving our enemies seems to be too much for us, we should pray for them and ask for grace for ourselves. By the grace of God, we can learn to be merciful as our Father is merciful. And we will become children of the Most High. + Stewardship Bulletin Reflection- February 24, 2019 In today s Gospel, taken from the sixth chapter of Luke, Jesus offers a very challenging, seemingly impossible approach to daily life. Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. To the person who strikes you on one cheek, offer the other one as well, and from the person who takes your cloak do not withhold even your tunic. It makes one want to say, Seriously, Lord? And He doesn t stop there. Jesus adds, Give to everyone who asks of you, and from the one who takes what i s y o u r s d o n o t d e m a n d i t b a c k. It seems so unfair! That is, unless we look at this way of life from a stewardship point of view. Then, not only does it seem doable (though challenging), it actually makes perfect sense. A steward understands clearly that all he has and all that he is his very life is a gift from God given to him from an unfathomable abundance of love. This changes everything! This means my cloak, my tunic, my money and time all of it ultimately belongs to God. He has entrusted these things to each of us in love to use for His purposes and His glory. Does this mean we are to be passive doormats to anyone who wants to take advantage of us? Certainly not. Jesus explains this in the next verse of this passage when He says, Do to others as you would have them do to you. There is nothing wrong with loving oneself since God loves us and has made us in His own image and likeness. Jesus is simply asking that we also approach others, and the sharing of our gifts, with this same attitude. He is giving us a definition here of real love, a steward s love!

3 Page 3 Pray without ceasing-...i Thessalonians 5:17 Remembering the Sick in Prayer Prayers of the Faithful, Sunday, February 24th Father God, we lift up all those who are facing illness today. We ask that you would bring healing, comfort and peace to their bodies. Calm their fears and let them experience the healing power of Your love. In Jesus name. Amen. Richard Alarcon Gage Laird Shannon Laird Patricia Bussard Bob Burns Virginia Alarcon Joseph Espanol Minda Hollenbeck Rita Bambilla Emily Burns Linda Espanol Paul Paguirigan Lilian Flores Janet Galicia Marian Faustino Marifi Lim Eduardo Paguirigan Julie Paguirigan Bradley Espanol Ethan Bantao Arnold Lim Patrick Espanol Andrew Espanol Mai Cheng AngelitoGalicia Jun Faustino Rico Flores Isabela Flores Justin Espanol Viktoria Flores Jayvee Faustino Jia Faustino Essex Combong Ivy Paguirigan John Cervantes Divine Mercy Catholic Church is not liable to users of the data or information provided herein, or to any other party, for any loss or damage, consequential or otherwise, including but not limited to time, money or goodwill, arising from the use, operation or modification of the data or information. 8:30 am Mass First Friday Adoration on March1st! Join us! 9:00 am Blessed Sacrament Exposed 4:00 pm Chaplet of the Sacred Heart 5:45 pm Benediction 6:30 pm Mass Come Adore Him! SAINTS AND READINGS OF THE WEEK Sunday, Feb 24 St. John Theristus 1 SM 26:2, 7-9, 12-13, 22-23; PS 103:1-2, 3-4, 8, 10, 12-13; 1 COR 15:45-49; JN 13:34; LK 6:27-38 Monday, Feb 25 St. Tarasius SIR 1:1-10; PS 93:1AB, 1CD-2, 5; SEE 2 TM 1:10; MK 9:14-29 Tuesday, Feb 26 St. Isabel of France SIR 2:1-11; PS 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40; GAL 6:14; MK 9:30-37 Wednesday, Feb 27 St. Leander of Seville SIR 4:11-19; PS 119:165, 168, 171, 172, 174, 175; JN 14:6; MK 9:38-40 Thursday, Feb 28 St. Hilary, Pope SIR 5:1-8; PS 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6; SEE 1 THES 2:13; MK 9:41-50 Friday, March 1 St. David SIR 6:5-17; PS 119:12, 16, 18, 27, 34, 35; SEE JN 17:17B, 17A; MK10:1-12 Saturday, March 2 Bl. Charles the Good SIR 17:1-15; PS 103:13-14, 15-16, 17-18; SEE MT 11:25; MK 10:13-16 With confidence inspired by the merciful kindness of God, we now pray. That the Church may be an instrument of God s mercy through her mission and outreach to those most in need. For the priests serving in the Diocese of Sacramento, that each of them will reflect the image of the heavenly one. For all those called to the priesthood or consecrated life in the Diocese of Sacramento, that as they generously respond to their call gifts will be given them in good measure, packed down and overflowing. For the People of God in the Diocese of Sacramento as we consider all that God has so generously given us, that He will open our hearts as we consider our participation in the Annual Catholic Appeal and for our sisters and brothers. For our enemies, and the enemies of our families, our Church, and our nation. That Scriptures teaching that our lives and bodies belong to the Lord may increase our reverence for all human life, and our awareness that only God can give it or take it away. That the sick may be consoled, strengthened, and healed. That all who have died may be welcomed to the peace and life of heaven. Remembering the Military in Prayer Allen Jay Cayabyab, USAF Chad Cayabyab, US Marines PO2 Stephen J Ramirez, Navy Samantha Chaidez, Navy TSTT Jesse R. Bose, USAF Jose Robledo, US Army LCpl Alex Penick, US Marines Deven Aguiar-Frank, USAF Jonah Edward Pagala, US Navy Vincent Santos, US Air Force Capt Jessica G. Dacpano USAF Christopher Robledo Navy Each Sunday, a family, couple, or individual is called forward at Mass to receive the vocation cross and a special prayer written to accompany it. In taking the cross, they commit themselves to pray during the week for an increase in holy vocations, and the gift of our priests, sisters, brothers, and deacons. All are invited to participate. Please pray for all the Sacramento Diocese Priests. To see who has signed up and to those who have not signed up yet; please stop by and check out our SIGN - UP CORNER at the Narthex counter top. Is God inviting You to Pray for the Vocations?

4 Page 4 MASS INTENTIONS Mark Your Calendars WEEK AT A GLANCE Sunday, Feb 24 7:30 am Mila Tolentino Macaisa + Fr Soane Maria Pilar Belen-Gallardo + 9:30 am Policarpio Alarcon + Fr Soane Beth & Vic Canby + (Death Anniversary) Justina Gonzalez Jimenez + 12:30 pm Gustavo Aguiar (Spiritual Healing) Fr Soane Carmelito Basco + (Death Anniversary) Monday, Feb 25 6:30 pm Roselyn Enghoy (Special Intentions) Fr Michael Wilhelmina Delfin + Wilma Pinili (Birthday) Tuesday, Feb 26 8:30 am Ray Schmilski + Fr Michael Ronald Clem + George Farrugia + Wed, Feb 27 6:30 pm Angela Escarcha + Fr Soane Thursday, Feb 28 8:30 am Angel Escarcha + Fr Soane Veronica Santos (Special Prayer in the Air Force) Friday, March 1 8:30 am EXPOSITION OF THE BLESSED SACRAMENT Fr Michael Ronald Clem + Yang Malgarita + 6:30 pm Angel Escarcha + Fr Soane Saturday, March 2 8:30 am Angel Escarcha + Fr Soane 5:00 pm Corazon Millano + Fr Michael Jose & Dorotea Nuesca (Safe Trip) Sunday, March 3 7:30 am Angel Escarcha + Fr Soane Art Sablad + (Death Anniversary) 9:30 am Carmen Carranza Olvera + Fr Soane 12:30 pm Gustavo Aguiar (Spiritual Healing) Fr Soane 5:00 pm YOUTH MASS Fr Michael Rosalia & Gerardo Rosario + March 6th Mass times: 8:30 am 5:00 pm 7:00 pm Sunday, Feb 24 9:00 am (P1, 2 & 3) RCIA Adapted and RCIA 2 9:00 am (P9) 9:00 am Confirmation Class 10:30 am (All Portables and the Narthex) CFF Class 10:30 am (Rectory) RCIA II 2:00 pm (P1-3) Men's Welcome Meeting 2:00 pm (P5) Women's Welcome Meeting Team 3 3:30 pm (P9) Sisterhood Meeting 5:00 pm (P7 & 8) Welcome Brotherhood Monday, Feb 25 6:00 pm (All Portables) CFF Classes 7:30 pm (Narthex) Forgiven: Transforming Power of Confession 7:30 pm (P9) Media Ministry Meeting Tuesday, Feb 26 9:00 am (P1, 2 & 3) Catechist of the Good Shepherd 9:30 am (Narthex) "Unlocking the Mystery of the Bible" 9:30 am (P9) Inner Circle Prayer Group Adoration 4:00 pm (P1, 2 & 3) Catechist of the Good Shepherd 5:30 pm (P9) RCIA Adapted-Children 7:00 pm (Narthex) Pastoral Council Meeting Wed, Feb 27 9:30 am (Narthex) Divine Mercy Cenacle 5:00 pm (P1) Children's Choir Practice 7:30 pm (Narthex) Baptism Prep Class (rescheduled from 3/6) 7:30 pm (P7) RCIA 1 Thurs, Feb 28 9:00 am (Narthex) Altar Society - Flower Arrangement 5:00 pm (P5) Legion of Mary 6:00 pm (Narthex) Divine Sweets Baking Ministry 6:00 pm (P9) Finance Council Meeting 7:00 pm (P1 & 2) FPU 7:00 PM (Church) Spanish Rosary 7:30 pm (P7) Knights of Columbus Friday, Mar 1 FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION 3:00 pm (Church) Holy Hour 4:00 pm (Church) Chaplet of the Sacred Heart 5:45 pm (Church) Benediction 7:00 pm (P7 & 8) Matthew; The King and His Kingdom 7:30 pm (Church) Adult Choir Practice Saturday, Mar 2 10:00 am (Narthex Area) Angels of Mercy Food Distribution 3:45 pm (Church) Confession Fr Michael 6:00 pm (Narthex) Lector Training-Garry Marauth Confessions at Divine Mercy Catholic Church will be available 30 minutes before Mass, Monday-Friday during the Lenten Season (as of March 6th.) Confessions are available at 3:45 on Saturdays and by appointment during the week. Call the office for an appointment.

5 Page 5 Giving is Worship SHARING OUR TREASURE Fiscal Year July June 2019 Week ending February 17, 2019 OFFERTORY REQUIREMENTS (July June 2019) Average 4 week Month Requirement $ 65,000 Weekly Average Requirements $ 15,000 Week of: 3-Feb wk 1 $ 21,859 Week of: 10-Feb wk 2 $ 13,047 Week of: 17-Feb wk 3 $ 9,323 Week of: 24-Feb wk 4 Total Collections This Month $ 44,229 Shortage (x,xxx) / Savings Increase $ (20,771) CHURCH MORTGAGE Mortgage Loan Balance 1/31/2019 $ 2,352,886 THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR PARISH This Week: Weekend Mass attendance totaled 1, families gave 76.5% of our weekend offertory of $7,925 We are thankful to the 18 families who gave sacrificial gifts totaling $1,164 for our Mortgage Reduction collection. The Mortgage Reduction Offering is next weekend. Please prayerfully consider what you can give to help the Church s efforts in reducing the balance on the mortgage. Place your offertory envelope in the second collection basket. May God Bless you abundantly for your support of the Parish! The Annual Catholic Appeal Donation is next week. Please prayerfully consider what you can give for the benefit of all who depend on our generosity through the Annual Catholic Appeal: those who need assistance from the Diocese charitable organizations and parish outreach ministries that serve them Tax Statements: Plan ahead, sign up for On Line Giving God Bless You for Your Continuing Generosity Have your gift recorded by using envelopes. We will provide you with a record of your tax-deductible donations every year. Don t have envelopes? Call Parish office to request it s easy! To save the church some money from stamps, paper and printing costs, your 2018 tax statements are now available to download electronically & securely through My Own Church (link is available from our website: divinemercynatomas.com) Click on the My Offering tab and go to Giving History where you should see "statements" on the upper right hand of the page and you can download from there. Printed statements will be made available upon request Del Paso Rd., Ste 110 Sacramento, CA Open: 11:00 am 12:00 am EVERY WEDNESDAY, 10% of sales from parishioners and friends will go to Divine Mercy Church. Your support is very much appreciated. God bless you most kindly for your generosity.

6 Page 6 Divine Mercy Catholic Church Ministries CFF Calendar February 2019 February 24/25 CFF Class / Family Mass at 12:30 February 26 RCIA Adapted Come and See! RCIA II in the Rectory Sundays at 10:30 am RCIA Remember auditing classes when you were in college? Well come and audit a class for RCIA II. Review what you may already know, or learn something new! February 17 Brian Purgatory &The Last Four Things (Jn 5:25-29) February 24 Sacrament Refresher: Baptism (covered 10 Feb), Eucharist (covered 16 Dec), Confirmation, Reconciliation (covered 20 Jan), Matrimony (covered 18 Nov), Holy Orders (covered 13 Jan), Anointing of the Sick. Sunday March 3rd 5:00 pm Life, especially human life, belongs only to God; for this reason whoever attacks human life, in some way attacks God himself. -Pope John Paull II PEACEFUL VIGIL Are you an adult who was baptized in the Catholic Church, received first Holy Communion and have been regularly attending Mass, but have not been Confirmed? Adult Confirmation Classes begin March 28th, Thursday at 6:30 pm in P3. Please contact the office at to make an appointment to for a meeting with Father. Registration will close on March 21st. March 16-April 14, 2019 Country Club Medical Center 2322 Butano Dr. Sacramento, CA Divine Mercy Church Day, in support of the Vigil, is March 21, :00 am-7:00 pm. Sign up sheets are in the Narthex. To be added to the Parish s Warrior Prayer Chain lopez-kathleen5341@sbcglobal.net

7 Page 7 Divine Mercy Catholic Church Ministries Final Days of Older Online (MyOwnGiving) platform extended Hello Church Online Givers, Earlier last year we ed you about the parish phasing out the older Online Giving platform (MyOwnGiving) to the more user friendly ConnectNow Giving. Most of you have successfully transferred to the new and better system and to the rest who are still active on the older Online Giving (MyOwnGiving), we have until March 15, 2019 to close out your account. We will send you a reminder 2 weeks before the deadline and after that we will delete all remaining accounts on that platform. Here again is the access to the OLDER Online giving so you can close your account : cid=1451 If you don't remember your login credentials, you may click on "forgot username/password". If you need assistance in closing out your account, you may send me an and we'll have the software provider delete your account right away. We hope to see you at our better and improved ConnectNow Giving. You'll need to register as a first time user. Signing up is fast, e a s y, s e c ur e, a n d c on f ident ial a t w w w. ht tps : / / giving.parishsoft.com/g3. For your added convenience, a checking account, savings account, or a credit card can be used when scheduling your gift online. However you choose to give your time, talent, and treasure, we thank you! Our parish ministries thrive only with your continued help and support. For more information about our new online giving system, please visit the church website at or c a l l o r e m a i l m e at ( ) or campaign@divinemercynatomas.com. Confirmation The My Parish App is coming to Divine Mercy Soon!

8 Divine Mercy Catholic Church Appreciates Our Advertisers! Please Support Them!

9 Bishop's Message: When we come together for the Annual Catholic Appeal, we unite our resources to help our sisters and brothers in need. Join me in extending the mercy and joy of the Lord Jesus to others. +Jaime Soto Bishop of Sacramento Let us come together as Catholics through the Annual Catholic Appeal On March 2-3, we will once again have the opportunity to be Christ to others. The Appeal is solely dedicated to the social mission of the Church here in Northern California. Together as Catholics, the Appeal is a way we can all give through the Church to help our sisters and brothers in a powerful way. Each of our gifts, no matter the amount, really do make a difference in someone s life. Twenty-five percent of your generous gift is returned to Divine Mercy Parish for assisting others in our community through programs such as the Angels of Mercy. Please prayerfully consider what you can give this year.