LENT. Schedule of Services. The Season of

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1 FEBRUARY 22, 2015 FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. ~ Pope Francis 923 S. LA BREA AVENUE, LOS ANGELES CA The Season of LENT SCHEDULE OF MASSES Sunday: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM & 12:00 PM Saturday: 8:30 AM, 5:00 PM (Vigil) Weekday: 9:00 AM (Monday-Friday) Wednesday: Holy Day: 8:00 AM, 6:30 PM; Vigil: 6:30 PM SACRAMENTS Confession: *1:00-1:30 PM, Sunday Baptism: Fourth Sunday of the month Matrimony: Six months notice required in advanced for marriage preparation. Appointments available for private Baptism, Funeral, Quinceañera. Please call to schedule your event. *(Confession schedule is subject to change without notice. Thank you.) RELIGIOUS EDUCATION First Communion: 3:45 PM Wednesday Confirmation: 11:00 AM Sunday RCIA: 7:00 PM Monday CONTACT US: Parish Office/Mailing: 926 S. Detroit Street, Los Angeles, CA Rectory: 922 S. Detroit Street, Los Angeles, CA Schedule of Services Stations of the Cross Fridays, 6:30 PM Followed by Fish N Soup Friday Penance Service Tuesday, March 17, 7:00 PM Parish Lenten Mission Sunday-Tuesday, March Telephone (323) Fax (323) parish@cathedralchapel.org Website:

2 [Jesus] remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan (Mk. 1). Pope Francis 2015 Lenten Message Together in Mission - Goal for CCSV $27,100 Dear Parishioners, Benefactors, and Friends: Last weekend the Archdiocese of Los Angeles reached out to all parishes to participate in this year s 2015 Together in Mission. As a parish, our goal is $27,100. Last year, we did not meet our TIM goal. I hope and pray that during this period of Lent, we will make our pledge to fulfill our parish commitment. If you already made your pledge with TIM, I am thankful for your generosity. For those of you who are still discerning, I encourage you and your family to make some sacrifices and participate in this year s TIM annual campaign. Renovation in our Church (Approximate C ost $25K) & Help Us to Defray the Cost During the last three weeks, I have been informing you of some renovation projects that we were hoping to accomplish in our church. Our goal is to improve security and safety, to encourage more singing and participation during the Sunday liturgy. SOUTH PARKING LOT: 1. Creating a Grotto Phase 1: Iron Fencing Cost = $1, Phase 2: Pending Design of the grotto 2. New LED Parking Lighting Approximate cost is $3, We are putting a light post with two LED light panels which will give ample lighting for the south parking and improving security & safety. 3. Automatic Gate System for the South Parking lot Approximate cost is $10, At night, our south parking lot is wide open to the public. This becomes an invitation to many other activities and liabilities. By adding the two automatic gates, the parking lot will remain locked and safe at night. 4. Church s Projector Project Approximate cost is between $8, to $10, We have completed the installation of the three projectors in our church, and we used them for the first time last weekend during the presentation of TIM. There are still a few minor installation that needs to be completed which includes the flat screen TV that we plan to put in the back of the church. The total cost of the four projects will be approximately $23, to $25, Some parishioners on their own initiative have already donated some money to the project. I am grateful for their prayers and support. I am appealing to again for your help to defray some of the cost of these projects. Concretely also, we are looking for a donor or several donors who could help us to purchase a smart TV ($2K-3K), and a projector ($600). Last week, a family came forward and donated an IPAD ($500). I am very thankful for their donations. Pope Francis 2015 Lenten Message Part 1 of 2 Lent is a time of renewal for the whole Church, for each communities and every believer. Above all it is a "time of grace" (2Cor 6:2). God does not ask of us anything that he himself has not first given us. "We love because he first has loved us" (1Jn 4:19). He is not aloof from us. Each one of us has a place in his heart. He knows us by name, he cares for us and he seeks us out whenever we turn away from him. He is interested in each of us; his love does not allow him to be indifferent to what happens to us. Usually, when we are healthy and comfortable, we forget about others (something God the Father never does): we are unconcerned with their problems, their sufferings and the injustices they endure Our heart grows cold. As long as I am relatively healthy and comfortable, I don t think about those less well off. Today, this selfish attitude of indifference has taken on global proportions, to the extent that we can speak of a globalization of indifference. It is a problem which we, as Christians, need to confront. When the people of God are converted to his love, they find answers to the questions that history continually raises. One of the most urgent challenges which I would like to address in this Message is precisely the globalization of indifference. Indifference to our neighbor and to God also represents a real temptation for us Christians. Each year during Lent we need to hear once more the voice of the prophets who cry out and trouble our conscience. God is not indifferent to our world; he so loves it that he gave his Son for our salvation. In the Incarnation, in the earthly life, death, and resurrection of the Son of God, the gate between God and man, between heaven and earth, opens once for all. The Church is like the hand holding open this gate, thanks to her proclamation of God s word, her celebration of the sacraments and her witness of the faith which works through love (cf. Gal 5:6). But the world tends to withdraw into itself and shut that door through which God comes into the world and the world comes to him. Hence the hand, which is the Church, must never be surprised if it is rejected, crushed and wounded. (To be continued next week ) WEEK OF FEBRUARY 22-28, 2015 SAINTS, SPECIAL OBSERVANCES, MASS INTENTIONS AND PARISH EVENTS SUNDAY, FEB. 22: 1st Sunday of Lent; Rite of Elec on; Rite of Calling the Candidates to con nuing Conversion; Rite of Sending; Washington s Birthday 8:00 Birthday Inten ons of Aurora Magpantay 10:00 5th Gr School Mass; Consejo & Demetrio Tanagon 11:00 Confirma on Classes 12:00p For All Our Parishioners 1:00p Confession (Subject to change without no ce. Pls call the office for appointments. Thank you.) MONDAY, FEB. 23: St. Polycarp; Julian Calendar Lent begins 9:00 Demosthenes A. Sano 7:00p RCIA Session TUESDAY, FEB. 24 9:00 Thanksgiving Jason Nguyen WEDNESDAY, FEB. 25 9:00 For All Our Volunteers; Ana Mercedes Rivas; Mary M. (Wetzel) Ruhland; Gabriel Forero 3:45p First Communion Classes 6:30p Our Lady of Perpetual Help Novena THURSDAY, FEB. 26 9:00 Francisco Santos FRIDAY, FEB. 27: Abs nence 9:00 Marissa Sarreal 6:30p Sta ons of the Cross followed by Fish N Soup (Parish Hall); CatChap Couples Bowling Night SATURDAY, FEB. 28: RCIA Retreat 8:30 For the Sick in Our Parish 5:00p For Priestly & Religious Voca ons PARISH ADMINISTRATION Rev. Truc Q. Nguyen, Pastor frtruc@cathedralchapel.org, ext. 223 Nancy G-Sheehan, Parish Business Manager nancy@cathedralchapel.org, ext. 224 Mayela Albarran, Office Assistant mayela@cathedralchapel.org, ext. 235 Sister Anna Tom, SDSH, Rel. Ed. Director religioused@cathedralchapel, ext. 234 Lis Brady, Office Support liseth@cathedralchapel.org, ext. 221 In Residence: Most Reverend Bishop Edward Wm. Clark (928 S. Detroit St. Los Angeles, 90036) Elementary School Cathedral Chapel School, Grades K-8th Tina Kipp, Principal 755 S. Cochran Ave., LA T: (323) ; F: (323)

3 THE MEANING OF OUR BAPTISM WORSHIP, LITURGY & FAITH Lent is the time of year that we devote to scrutinizing our lives in the light of our baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus. Today's readings are a nice shorthand catechism of what our baptized lives mean. As Noah passed through the waters of the flood to a covenant with God, so did we enter into a covenant, a promised relationship with God through our baptism. The psalm reminds us that if we truly keep the covenant, the way of life God expects us to follow will not be a burden, but a source of love and truth. Peter's letter gives one explanation of what our baptism means: it is an appeal that we make to God for a clear conscience. How do we obtain this clear conscience? The words that Jesus proclaims immediately following his temptation show us the way: "Repent and believe in the gospel." It might be a good spiritual exercise to keep these readings before us throughout the entire season of Lent, a means to help us return to a life lived in our baptismal promises. Copyright J. S. Paluch Co. God of all people, we offer you our Lenten journey. May we learn to walk as one human family, remembering in a special way those who are poorest and most in need. Bless our prayers, our fas ng and our Lenten gi s. Through these ac ons, we show our love for your Son, Jesus, and answer your call to love one another. Amen. CRS Rice Bowl Prayer Treasures From Our Tradition Fasting may be a priority in your Lenten spring-cleaning regimen. Almost every religious tradition recognizes that fasting is a key to heightened spiritual awareness. You know this from your own experience. When you are engaged in a hobby, painting a room, keeping vigil near a delivery room, or standing watch at a sickbed, you may simply forget to eat. What you are doing so fills you that the intensity of the action is itself nourishing. In fasting from food, or drink, or habitual behaviors, you make room for what is truly important. Even though Lenten Sundays stand apart from the Lenten fast, you will notice traces of fasting in our liturgy. We fast from singing the Gloria and Alleluia, we fast from flowers bedecking the altar, and there may be a noticeable drop in the number of infant baptisms as parents elect to wait until Easter. This hints that fasting is a prelude to feasting, and the vigor of our Easter alleluias is rich fare after a long silence. In the same way, even a small fast--no cream in the coffee, no pepper in the soup, no radio in the car--can not only point to deeper hungers, but help us rejoice more fully in the feast when we break our fast together. J. S. Paluch Co. PRAY FAST GIVe, 2015 As we look ahead to our Lenten journey, may our fas ng be a hunger for jus ce, our alms a making of peace, and our prayers the change of humble and grateful hearts. We ask for God s help to put our faith into ac on, to work in love, to persevere in hope, through our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God forever and ever. Amen. CRS Rice Bowl is the faith-in-ac on Lenten program of Catholic Relief Services, the official interna onal development and humanitarian relief agency of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. CRS Rice Bowl is celebra ng 40 years of helping communi es live out Lent in solidarity with our poorest brothers and sisters around the world. Seventy-five percent of every dona on goes to help the poor overseas, and twenty-five percent stays in your diocese to support local hunger and homelessness allevia on projects. You ll find more prayer, educa onal and family resources available online at crsricebowl.org and on the CRS Rice Bowl app. $1 a day for 40 days of Lent means: 1 month of food for a family 2 years of seed for a farmer 3 months of clean water for 4 families What I give up I give to others

4 PARISH LIFE: MINISTRY, EVENTS & REMINDERS Raise Up. Sacrifice. Offer. Lenten Reflections This Lent, you are encouraged to raise up the needs of the world in prayer, to sacrifice by giving up food and material wants, and to offer your time, talent and treasure as good stewards of the gifts God has given you. " how greatly I desire that all those places where the Church is present, especially our parishes and our communities, may become islands of mercy in the midst of the sea of indifference!" Pope Francis, Message for Lent During Lent, the Church asks us to surrender ourselves to prayer and to the reading of Scripture, to fasting and to giving alms. The fasting that all do together on Fridays is but a sign of the daily Lenten discipline of individuals and households: fasting for certain periods of time, fasting from certain foods, but also fasting from other things and activities. Likewise, the giving of alms is some effort to share this world equally not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. In Lent, the baptized are called to renew their baptismal commitment as others prepare to be baptized through the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, a period of learning and discernment for individuals who have declared their desire to become Catholics. The key to fruitful observance of these practices is to recognize their link to baptismal renewal. We are called not just to abstain from sin during Lent, but to true conversion of our hearts and minds as followers of Christ. We recall those waters in which we were baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ. Catholics are also encouraged to make going to confession a significant part of their spiritual lives during Lent. For additional Lenten resources, please visit usccb.org/lent. Couples Bowling Night Feb. 27 6:30p Shatto 39 Lanes 3255 W. 4th St. LA BLACK HISTORY MONTH 2015 Theme A Century of Black Life, History & Culture Cathedral Chapel School Invites you to a Black History Month Celebration DATE: Friday, February 27, 2015 TIME: 6:00-8:30 pm WHERE: School Auditorium, Parking available in the school yard. Dancers, Storyteller, Arts & Crafts, Special Speaker invited, Potluck, etc. For more information Contact: Ms. Ally Moore: allymmoore@aol.com JOIN US each Friday evenings, after the Stations of the Cross at 7:15 PM, Parish Hall, for a light dinner of soup and/or fish with fellow parishioners. To sign up for a Fish N Soup Friday, please call the parish office or fishfriday@cathedralchapel.org. Have your remembered your parish or school in your will or trust? For further informa on, please contact the parish office or H. Richard Closson, Director, Trust & Estate Programs, HRClosson@la-archdiocese.org Our correct legal tle is: The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Lost Angeles, A Corpora on Sole for the benefit of: CATHEDRAL CHAPEL PARISH PARISH next 2-weeks CALENDAR March 3 & 10 School Penance Service, 10:30am March 6 First Friday, Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament 9:30a-6:00p Friday, Feb. 27th 6:30 PM DID YOU KNOW? Child Abduc on: Taking Ac on ~ A recent study of the Na onal Center for Missing & Exploited Children revealed that 83% of children who escaped their would-be abductors kicked, yelled, and pulled away to escape. Teach your child these and other abduc on preven on skills, such as: Asking for permission before changing plans; asking for permission before approaching or ge ng into vehicles with anyone; recognizing the tricks would-be abductors use, such as offering rides or asking for help; telling a trusted adult whenever anything or anyone makes them uncomfortable. When it comes to keeping your child safe, YOU are your child s best resource. The more you know about abduc on preven on, the be er protected your child will be. Use your knowledge to make conversa ons about personal safety a regular part of your family s rou ne. For more informa on, visit: h p:// on. YOUR PARISH SUPPORT: FEB , 2015 Weekly Offering: $ Building Fund: $ We are grateful for your continued support of our parish. May God bless you all!

5 MARRIAGE & FAMILY Lenten Resolutions for Married Couples Inspired by Pope Francis Are you wondering how to grow in holiness this Lent, together with your spouse? Try following some advice from the Pope! In his homilies and addresses, Pope Francis has spoken quite directly about how husband and wife should treat each other, about prayer within the family, and other ways the family lives its identity as a domestic Church. So this Lent, why not commit with your spouse to try one of the following Lenten resolutions, based on words from the Holy Father? 1) Be courteous to your spouse. Use polite requests: May I? Can I? For example, Would you like for us to do this? and Do you want to go out tonight? To ask permission means to know how to enter with courtesy into the lives of others. True love does not impose itself harshly and aggressively. (Address to Engaged Couples, Rome, Feb. 14, 2014.) 2) Say thank you to your spouse. It seems so easy to say these words, but we know that it is not. But it is important! It is important to keep alive the awareness that the other person is a gift from God and for the gifts of God we say thank you! (Address to Engaged Couples, Rome, Feb. 14, 2014) {EXCERPTED FROM FORYOURMARRIAGE.ORG}. FAMILY MASS AT CATHEDRAL CHAPEL SIGN UP FORM NAME/S: TELEPHONE: SATURDAY/SUNDAY MASS: Sat. 5pm Sun. 8am Sun. 10am Sun. 12pm DATES AVAILABLE: Feb. 28 Mar. 1 Mar. 7 Mar. 8 Mar. 14 Mar. 15 Mar. 21 Mar. 22 Mar. 28 Mar. 29 Please tear this portion off and drop it in the collection basket. Once signed up, a parish staff or PLC member will contact you and provide you and your family with more information. Thank you for signing up! God bless! THE YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE By: Richard (Rick) Ruhland Pastoral Liturgy Council member, Usher 12pm Mass, Volunteer (Continued from last week) Where have they gone? Since Vatican II there has been a precipitous decline in membership and recruitment to the women s religious orders (from about 170,000 in 1965 to about 50,000 in 2014). The 11-page Perfectae Caritatus letter issued in 1965 encouraged religious orders to re-examine their practices to honor the spirit and original aims of their founders, but the letter contained many ambiguous instructions. For example, habits should be simple and becoming. They should be modernized, if necessary, to comply with health and local needs. Members should humbly obey their superiors, and superiors should respect the human dignity of their members. Monastic life should be preserved and their customs updated for the edification of Christians. Orders should adapt their customs according to their original mission. After Vatican II, there was a brisk business in providing consulting services to religious communities and dioceses in the USA. Members of religious orders began questioning authority for the first time. As a result, some orders moved away from teaching and started working for civil rights or other social justice issues. Others eliminated their habits or communal living. Still others adopted a radical feminist ideology and began to attack the hierarchy of the church demanding ordination of women, and support for other issues that were opposed to Catholic doctrine. The decline in vocations should be taken in context with the times. Soon after Vatican II, workplace opportunities in the USA became much greater for women in the occupations of business, law, engineering, and medicine. Among the challenges facing religious orders today are the average age of their members, caused by a very large recruitment gap that did not replace members that left in the period; and a large unfunded retirement and health care liability caused by the failure to financially support the religious orders when they were working for little or no pay. This is one of the reasons for the annual Retirement Fund for Religious national collection. As mentioned previously, many religious orders have changed their ministry either because they no longer had the resources or because the members voted for the change. The footprint in Los Angeles is smaller than it was, but here are some of these women s religious orders that are active in the Los Angeles area: 1.) Benedictine Sisters (founded by St. Scholastica, twin sister of St. Benedict, ) is one of the oldest monastic orders in the world. They came to the US in They currently operate a local private girls high school -- St. Lucy s Priory High School in Glendora CA. (to be continued next week)