Second Sunday of Easter ~ Divine Mercy Sunday April 3, Vision Statement

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1 Archdiocese of Galveston Houston St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception Catholic Church 816 Park Dr. La Porte, Texas Fax: Website: Parish Office Hours Monday - Friday 9:00 am-12:00 Noon 1:00 pm-4:00 pm CCE Office Hours: Sunday 8:30 am-12:00 pm Second Sunday of Easter ~ Divine Mercy Sunday April 3, 2016 Sacrament of Baptism Baptisms are celebrated on the 1 st Sunday of the month. Classes are held on the 2 nd & 3 rd Tuesday of each month. Please come by the Parish Office to register or call for more information. Reconciliation The Sacrament of Penance is offered on Saturdays, from 4:30p.m. to 5:30p.m. or by appointment. Sacrament of Marriage Please contact the Parish Office at least (6) six months prior to your desired wedding date to arrange a meeting with Father Tony or one of the Deacons. If you want a Mass, you must call Father Tony. Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults Are you a non-catholic who is interested in joining the Catholic faith? Are you a baptized Catholic who has never received the sacraments of 1 st Communion and Confirmation? If your answer is yes to either of these questions, call the Parish Office. Sacrament of First Communion First Communion candidates must be baptized, at least in the second grade, and have been attending CCE classes for two full years previous to their receiving the Sacrament. Adults needing First Communion should refer to the rite of Christian Initiation of Adults. Sacrament of Confirmation Confirmation candidates must have previously received the Sacraments of Baptism and First Communion. They must have faithfully attended Life Teen for at least one full year prior to beginning preparation for the Sacrament (more than three absences without a valid excuse can alter the process). A signed form stating that the parent/guardian and the candidate understand all requirements is also necessary before the preparation begins. Adults needing confirmation should refer to the Rite of Christian initiation of adults. Eucharistic Celebrations Saturday: 6:00 p.m. Sunday: 7:30 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (Spanish) 4:00 p.m. Life Teen Mass Weekday Masses in St. Joseph s Chapel Monday (No Mass) Tuesday 12:00 noon Wednesday 8:30 a.m. & (1st Wednesday Only 6:30 p.m.) Thursday, & Friday 8:30 a.m. Parish Staff Rev. Tony A. Castro, Pastor Deacon Hector Cantu Deacon Julio Matallana Deacon Stan Avallone Parish Secretary-Debbie Heasty C.C.E. Director-Jessica Jaramilllo EDGE Director-Renee Cortez Life Teen Director-Shari Davis Vision Statement St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception is a Catholic Community of Believers called to serve Christ by gathering together at the Lord s Table in worship and praise, by serving our brothers and sisters in Christ, and by being a welcoming beacon of light to all. We are many parts, yet one body in Christ.

2 Saturday April 2: 6:00pm Mrs. Vernon Sellers By:Marie Richard Easter Sunday, April 3: 7:30am Sinforosa Dapitan 10:00am 12:30pm 4:00pm Tuesday, April 5: 12:00pm Wednesday, April 6: 8:30am Thursday, April 7: 8:30am Friday, April 8: 8:30am Saturday April 9: 6:00pm Sunday, April 10: 7:30am 10:00am 12:30pm 4:00pm By:Marden Distefano Pedro & Maria Perez By:Family People of the Parish Special Intention Micah Nelson By:Emarita Busic Charlotte Boudreaux By: Mrs. Vernon Sellers By:Carl & Wal Dean Lundquist Roberta Toppin By:Rick & Leslie Guzman Elizabeth Bugg By:Kempf Family Emil Schaider By:Becky Melchor Carolyn & Sam Magliolo By:John Magliolo Dalia Guerrero By:Guerrero Family People of the Parish Maddie Bowerman By:Emarita Busic Blood Drive Today 8:30am-2:30pm Rosary Hall Please help us reach our goal!!! CFL express enables you to complete The Blood Center s health history interview in the comfort of your own home. You must complete the health history interview and print your ticket on the same day as you donate. Go to giveblood.org. Los Testigos del Poder de Dios Nuestra Asamblea de Oración les invita a reunirse como hermanos en Cristo para ALABAR, BENDECIR, y GLORIFICAR a nuestro Dios, Padre, Hijo y Espiritu Santo. Vengan pequenos y grandes todos los viernes de 7:30-9:00p.m. en la capilla de San Jose. Palm Sunday Weekend Weekly Goal $12, Collection $12, Holy Thursday Collection $ 1, Good Friday Collection $1, Easter Sunday Weekend Collection $12, God is at Work Here Loan Balance Principle Balance $124, Monthly Payment $ 8, Donations (March) $ 2, God s blessings to each of you for your generosity and support to our parish with your time, talent and treasure. DIOCESAN SERVICES FUND Parish Goal 2016 $52, Total Amount Pledged $24, Total Amount Paid $16, (30.78%) Total # of Participants 88 HIS MERCY ENDURES FOREVER OUR Diocesan Services Fund has begun in every parish throughout the Archdiocese of Galveston- Houston. Christ calls us to reach those who are sick or in need, to bless them, serve them, and show them mercy. The thousands of people served by the ministries of the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston need your compassion and generosity Your kind gift to DSF enables us to reach out to people in this parish and throughout the entire Archdiocese through more than 60 important programs. Pray about your DSF 2016 commitment, then complete the enclosed pledge card mailed to you and return it via mail in the special envelope provided or bring it to Mass next weekend. If you prefer, you may go online at to make your donation. Your generosity will allow our Catholic community to continue many vital programs and services. ~ Giving to Give ~ If you have a rosary in need of repair, or if you would like to have one made, please contact Rena ***New Rosaries ~ $20.00 & up (Available in the office) Repairs ~ $5.00 & up. All proceeds are donated to the building fund. 2

3 Dear parish family, 2 Sunday of Easter Divine Mercy Sunday During this Jubilee Year of Mercy, the second Sunday of Easter stands out because it is designated as Divine Mercy Sunday, declared sometime ago by the late Pope St. John Paul II based on the revelations of Jesus himself to Saint Faustina Kowalska, which compelled him to assigned this special Sunday for its feast. The message is simple that God loves us no matter how great our sins. He wants to us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. Thus, all will come to share His joy. The whole message of the devotion can be summed up to three: first, Ask for His Mercy repenting for our sins and asking Him to pour His mercy upon the whole world. Second, be merciful. The Lord wants us also to extend love and forgiveness to others just as He does to us. Third, completely trust in Jesus. God wants us to know that the graces of His mercy are dependent upon our trust. The more we trust in Jesus, the more, we will receive. As the gospel this Sunday says, Blest are those who do not see yet believed. Yes, the more we believe and trust in Jesus, the more we will be able to see what God wants us to see in life. We all stumble, and we all have our doubts. We are so many times like Thomas. Our principle in human relationship is like him in the gospel, to see is to believe. But this principle is not perfect. We know that our sight or the way we see things is sometimes deceived. And occasionally we know that what we see is not necessarily what is true. We clearly know too that there are those things we even do not see yet they are true. Faith is no faith at all, if it is base merely on things seen. God has a different principle in our relationship to Him. The more we believe in the Lord the more we see what God wants us to see in life and the more we understand God s ways. Yes, the more we believe and trust in the Lord then the more we will be able to see God s wonderful plan for us There is of course a strong link between inner peace and strong faith. The greater our faith in God, the stronger we are to face and overcome the difficulties, the problems, challenges, and trials that may come along the way. So as we celebrate the feast of the Divine Mercy this second Sunday of Easter, let us make the habit of praying, Jesus I trust in you as St. Faustina urged us to do. Indeed, it is in trusting the Lord that gives us inner strength when we are weak and inner peace amidst our world full of troubles. Blessings to you and have a good week! Fr. Tony Estimada familia parroquial, 2 Domingo de Pascua "Domingo de la Misericordia" Durante este año jubilar de la Merced, el segundo domingo de Pascua se distingue porque es designado como Domingo de la Misericordia, declarado hace algún tiempo por el fallecido Papa San Juan Pablo II sobre la base de las revelaciones de Jesús a Santa Faustina Kowalska, que le presionaba a asignar este domingo especial para su fiesta. El mensaje es simple que Dios nos ama sin importar lo grande de nuestros pecados. Él quiere reconocer que su misericordia es más grande que nuestros pecados, por lo que vamos a recurrir a Él con confianza, recibir su misericordia, y dejar que fluya a través de nosotros hacia los demás. Por lo tanto, todos vendrán a compartir su alegría. Todo el mensaje de la devoción puede resumirse en tres: en primer lugar, pedir su misericordia arrepintiéndonos de nuestros pecados y pidiéndole que derrame su misericordia sobre el mundo entero. En segundo lugar, ser misericordiosos. El Señor quiere también extender el amor y el perdón a los demás tal como lo hace con nosotros. En tercer lugar, confiar completamente en Jesús. Dios quiere que sepamos que las gracias de su misericordia dependen de nuestra confianza. Cuanto más confiamos en Jesús, más, vamos a recibir. El Evangelio de este domingo dice: "Bienaventurados los que no ven, sin embargo, creen." Sí, cuanto más creemos y confiamos en Jesús, más vamos a er capaces de ver lo que Dios quiere que veamos en la vida. Todos fallamos, y todos tenemos nuestras dudas. Somos tantas veces como Thomas. Nuestro principio en la relación humana es como él en el Evangelio, "ver es creer". Sin embargo, este principio no es perfecto. Sabemos que nuestra "vista" o la forma en que vemos las cosas a veces son engañosas. Y de vez en cuando sabemos que lo que vemos no es necesariamente lo verdadero. Claramente sabemos también que hay esas cosas que hacemos, sin ver que son verdaderas. La fe no es fe total, si está basada simplemente en las cosas vistas. Dios tiene un principio diferente en nuestra relación con Él. Cuanto más creemos en el Señor más vemos lo que Dios quiere que veamos en la vida y es cuanto más entendemos los caminos de Dios. Sí, cuanto más creemos y confiamos en el Señor entonces más vamos a ser capaces de ver el maravilloso plan de Dios para nosotros. Hay por supuesto un fuerte vínculo entre la paz interior y una fe fuerte. Cuanto mayor sea nuestra fe en Dios, más fuertes seremos para enfrentar y superar las dificultades, los problemas, desafíos y pruebas que puedan surgir a lo largo del camino. Así como se celebra la fiesta de la Divina Misericordia este segundo domingo de Pascua, hagamos el hábito de orar, "Jesús en Ti confío", como Santa Faustina nos instó a hacer. De hecho, confiar en el Señor es que nos da la fuerza interior cuando somos débiles y paz interior en medio de nuestro mundo lleno de problemas. Bendiciones para ti y que tengan una buena semana! Padre Tony

4 Activities of the Week Sun. April 3: CCE, EDGE, Life Teen Bringing Faith Home Bible Study 8:45 & 11:15 Blood Drive 8:30am-2:30pm Bible Study 5:15pm, Matthew: The King & His Kingdom Mon. April 4: Clase de Crecimiento Rosary Hall 7pm Women s AA 7pm, Missing Piece 6:30 Tues. April 5: ESL Class 9:30am, GED 7pm, Rosary Hall 10AM Choir 6:30pm Rosary Hall Wed. April 6: Bible Study 9:00am, Matthew: The King & His Kingdom Talleres de Oraciony Vida 7pm Rosary Hall Thurs. April 7: KC Mtg. 8pm Rosary Hall Fri. April 8: Spanish Prayer Group Chapel Sat. April 9: Bereavement Session #5 Sun. April 10: CCE, EDGE, Life Teen Breakfast Tacos & Carne Guisada after Morning Masses Bringing Faith Home Bible Study 8:45 & 11:15 Bible Study 5:15pm, Matthew: The King & His Kingdom ALTAR SOCIETY Altar Flower Dates Available April 10, 17 May 1, 29 June 5,12 July 3,17, 24,31 If you would like to have flowers on the Altar in the upcoming year, please contact Jan or to reserve your date as soon as possible. Sanctuary Candle In Loving Memory of Bob Huston By:Heasty Family Chapel Candle In Loving Memory of Bob Sullivan By:Angeles Sullivan APRIL ALTAR DUTY ASSIGNMENTS Altar Duty: Jan Hughes, Carolyn O Neal Laundry Duty: Agnes Rushing Hostess: Belinda Guerrero, Heather Lopez READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 7:10-14, 8:10; Ps 40:7-11; Heb 10:4-10; Lk 1:26-38 Tuesday: Acts 4:32-37; Ps 93:1-2, 5; Jn 3:7b-15 Wednesday: Acts 5:17-26; Ps 34:2-9; Jn 3:16-21 Thursday: Acts 5:27-33; Ps 34:2, 9, 17-20; Jn 3:31-36 Friday:Acts 5:34-42; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Jn 6:1-15 Saturday: Acts 6:1-7; Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19; Jn 6:16-21 Sunday: Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; Rv 5:11-14; Jn 21:1-19 [1-14] The Gabriel Project is designed to help women and teenagers who are in a crisis pregnancy. If you are in need of assistance or know someone who is, please contact or the Church Office. MINISTRY SCHEDULE April 9 & 10, 2016 SATURDAY 6:00pm Altar Servers Eros Lopez, Joseph Schaeffer Commentator Tracy Avallone Lector Isabelle Salas Extraordinary Ministers Walter Hayes, George Rodriguez SUNDAY-7:30am Altar Server Andrew Nguyen, John Paul Nguyen Commentator Sheridan Lewis Lector Susie Burgess Extraordinary Ministers Otis Mathews, Sonja Mathews SUNDAY-10:00am Altar Server Reece Schoppe, Ryan Schoppe Commentator Wayne Christensen Lector Vanessa Maduzia Extraordinary Minister Eloy Lara, Vanessa Lara SUNDAY-12:30pm(Spanish) Altar Servers Adriana Calvillo, Mayra Hernandez, Jasmine Rodriguez Lectors Carlos & Graciela Cirnigliario Extraordinary Ministers Victor & Juanita Vealsquez SUNDAY-4:00pm Altar Servers Lauren Lara, Payton Lara Lectors Nick Barrera Extraordinary Ministers Hope Novosad, Matt Novosad Samaritan Corner The Samaritan Monthly Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, April 6:30pm in St. Joseph s Chapel. Those being remembered at Mass this month will be Jeff Batson, Travis Quinn Noel Chapa, Francis Mik, Arline Veronica Salerno, Elfriede Springer and Roberta Toppin. HELPING YOUR NEIGHBOR If you truly want to help the soul of your neighbor, you should approach God first with all your heart. Ask God simply to fill you with charity... with it you can accomplish what you desire. St. Vincent Ferrer Lottie Caudill Welcome God s Children ~ March ~ Alexander Ivan Gracia Mihael Pedro Ivic Jocelyn Guadalupe Perez 4

5 Please Pray For Our Troops and Karen Bounds, Casey and Lacey Nowetner, Virginia Head, Bob Jennings, H. C. Wade, Matthew Homer, Jerry Waldrup, Timothy Sturm, David True, Alex Elias, Francisca Vigueria, Hector Vigueria, Rebekah Oestreicher, Jason Oestreicher, Edward Salinas, Irene Templet, Amy Zann, Tanisha Taylor, Arwin Lavetoria, Bob Fredelake, Petronila Mogollon, Carlos Rodriguez, Juan Guerrero, Rosalinda Munoz, Mary Himjosa, Dennis, Peggy & Erica Hargens, Tami Sills, Craig Wade, Jennifer Wade, Luke Lewallen, Martha Love, Jose Molina, Cindy & Dave Schmitz, LeeAnn & Family, Dianne Lemons, Paula Lambright, Becky Melchor, Deacon Joe Blanchard, Gabriel Dunn, Monica Lesenski, Victoria Farias, Hope Araujo, Chuck Thompson, Gale Hanks, Candalaria Ortiz, Mrs. Ted Sharp, Giovanni Cantu, Nell Martin, Ted & Jeanette Tilley, Nicholas Espinoza III, Teen Grigory, Donna Henson, Judy Tuttle, Fuad Baba, Natalie Fairbanks, Lucindo Gutierrez, Carmen Pena, Brian Young, Pearl Robbs, Marcey Salinas Continue to Pray for Preston Wolfe, Loretta Foots, Marcos Vasquez, Clarence Clipper, Gavin Binkley, Clarence Lewis, Sonny Shepherd, Kay Gold, Red Cornejo, Nancy Isla Castro, Irlinda, Kathryn Coleman, Marita Hooper, Linda Jaramillo, Janet Lodge, Lois Johnston, Joe Funda, Minnie Lopez, Deacon Merce Leal, Margarita Klock, John & Sue Crockett, Joanne Jarrell, Joanie O Neal, Ben Munoz, Diana Ortiz, Bob Davis, Janet Hoffpauir, Nick Martin, Teresa Eidt, Barry Armstrong and those requesting prayer via our web site. Remember Our Shut-Ins Joe & Josie Funda, Ophelia Pinard, Ann Blair, Soledad Hernandez, Elida Peterson, Carolyn Douglas, those battling terminal illness and the residents of La Porte Care Center and Parson s House. Repose of the Soul of Bill Joe Helmer Jr. Our Sympathy to Christine Espinoza and family on the loss of her father, Bill Please Note: Names on our Please Pray For list are left on for four weeks. If someone needs to be put back on the prayer list or added please call the Church Office. St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Mon.-Wed., Fri., Sat. 9:00-11:00am Store Closed Thurs. & Sun. Our drop-off room is open 24/7. Thank You!!! In the Gospel today, Jesus stands in the midst of us and says: Peace be with you! During Mass we turn to each other and say Peace be with you! When you donate to our St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store, you say Peace be with you! to those who are needy in our community. Marriage Enrichment Workshop April 16th St. Mary s will host a Marriage Enrichment Workshop given by Greg and Julie Alexander on Saturday, April 16th from 9:00am 4:00pm. You ve seen them on EWTN, they are frequent guests on Catholic radio and they are the authors of Marriage 911! The Alexanders will present a day-long workshop that includes Church teaching, scripture, coupled with their own experience to present this fun and fact filled workshop! The cost is $40.00 per couple. Lunch will be provided. Childcare Ages 12 and under (with reservation). For more information and to register contact; Eloy Lara at elara.67.el@gmail.com. Daycare 5th Grade and under will be provided. If you are in need of daycare, we will need to know in advance the number of children who will be attending. Deadline to sign up April 8th. Free ESL Classes Due to the response and interest in the ESL classes, we will be holding classes on Tuesday throughout this semester. If you need any additional information, please contact the office. Free GED Classes Tuesday Evenings Due to the response and interest in GED classes, we will be holding classes on Tuesday evenings, 7-8:30pm in Rosary Hall throughout this semester. You do not need to sign up ahead of time. If you are interested, just come on Tuesday. Bereavement Support The Bereavement C.A.R.E. Team (Caring and Reaching Out to Each other) is currently hosting a five week bereavement support group for anyone grieving the loss of a loved one through death or permanent separation. This week s meeting will be on Acceptance and Evaluation with a Candle Ceremony. If you are in need of someone to talk to about the next sessions, in the fall, please contact Nelda Come Pray With Us... Monday, April 11th - Please join us in praying the Holy Rosary, asking for our Blessed Mother s intercession for the unborn, elderly, disabled, sick and all special intentions in St. Joseph s 7:00pm. Please contact or randytercero@hotmail.com. 5

6 Join Us St. Mary s Music Ministry Sat. 6pm Mass Rehearsals before Mass at 5:15 Contact Kathy McBride Sun. 7:30am Mass - Rehearsals before Mass at 7am Contact Yvonne Fisher Sun. 10:00am Mass - Tues. 6:30-9pm Rosary Hall Contact Annelise Lagasse Sun. 12:30pm Spanish Mass- Contact Jose Vazquez Sun. 4pm Life Teen Mass- Rehearsals-Sunday 2pm Contact sttheresa.prolife@gmail.com or Bible Study Classes Sunday Morning Bible Study with Deacon Stan & Tracy Avallone. The program they use is called Bringing Faith Home 8:45am & 11:15am every Sunday). Matthew: The King and His Kingdom Classes Start Sun. April 3, 5:15pm & Wednesday, April 6, 9:00am Matthew: The King and His Kingdom: An exciting study that explores the life and mission of Jesus as recorded in the Gospel. Matthew demonstrates how the promises and prophecies of the Old Testament are fulfilled in Christ, who establishes a New Law and inaugurates the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. Participants will see Jesus as the awaited Messiah who relives the life struggles of Israel to become the faithful and victorious King. Set in the rich context of Jesus Jewish culture, this study will help participants understand who Jesus is and what his life and teachings mean for us today. For additional information about the Bible Study Classes call the office or Tracy, stmarysrcia@yahoo.com. RCIA This Week RCIA Are you a non-catholic who is interested in joining the Catholic faith? Are you a baptized Catholic who has never received the sacraments of 1st Communion and Confirmation and are over the age of eighteen? If your answer is yes to either of these questions you may be interested in joining our RCIA program in the fall. Students are welcome to begin classes at any time during the year. For additional information about the RCIA program, call the office or Tracy, stmarysrcia@yahoo.com. Garland of Mercy... In this Jubilee Year, we are asked to open our eyes and hearts to see how God is working in our lives and to more actively spread His mercy out to others. We are creating a Garland of Mercy with our teen group to bear witness to our efforts to help others. For the entire year, we are asking each week when you do works of mercy, to write down one or more works on the strips of paper in the ends of the pews. Please put them into the collection basket so that we offer up, not just our treasure to the Lord, but our time and talent in a visible way. Red Strips are for The Corporal Works of Mercy: feeding the hungry, clothing the needy, visiting the sick or imprisoned. White Strips are for The Spiritual Works of Mercy: Counseling the doubtful, bearing wrongs patiently, forgiving offences willingly and praying for the living and the dead. Gold Ones are for the acts of mercy which we received from others. I know that all of you are part of spreading God s mercy out into the world. Please take the time to become more conscious of it and take credit for it here before the Lord. Upcoming Baptismal Dates May 8, June 5, July 3 Baptism classes are on the 2nd Tues. of each the month in English and 3rd Tues. of each month in 7pm. Baptisms are the first Sunday of the month after the 10am & 12:30pm Masses. To register please call the office. Classes Today If you can help contact Jessica We are in desperate need of someone to step forward to be the Co-Chair for Bazaar Our Chair, Karl Paulissen, is willing to work with someone who is willing to step up to be chair the following year. Bazaar 2016 Sunday, October 2nd Class Today Contact Renee Cortez Jr. High/High School Sacraments Class Today Deacon Stan~

7 Electronic Recycling Saturday April 23, 8am-1pm St. Mary s Parking Lot Visit for list of items you can donate!!! 4pm Mass Today Class Today 5:15pm Breakfast Tacos & Carne Guisada Fundraiser Next Weekend Homemade Pie Fundraiser Call the office to place your order!!! If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Shari