St. James the Apostle

Transcription

1 Open Mind Open Heart Open Door Mar 19, FREMONT BLVD. FREMONT, CA St. James the Apostle Message from Father Antony WOMAN AT THE WELL For many years daily she came to this well, With gratitude people called it Jacob s well. For them this was the only source of water, People came here whether summer or winter. She was a Samaritan of ill repute, Her marriage always ended up in dispute. Neighbors avoided her as she had a bad name, To find them in her company was a real shame. To avoid crowds she came to the well at noon, With her buckets filled she would leave the place soon. This day was different and she wouldn t be the same, She met Jesus and the world would know her name. The Jews and Samaritans hated each other, This old animosity lasted for ever. Tired from journey Jesus asked her for a drink, Under a terrible shock she couldn t even think. He then promised to give her living water Which, if she drinks, she would be quenched forever. Jesus then asked her to go bring her husband, She confessed that she did not have a husband. Jesus then opened her eyes to her sinful life, She saw in Jesus the way to eternal life. With her many Samaritans believed in Him, They sang for Jesus many a joyful hymn. Questions: 1. Which stanza of this poem is hardest to understand? 2. Have you met people like the woman at the well? 3. If so, how have you treated them? 4. What does this experience teach you? Reflections: One of the best songs of my teenage years is about the Samaritan woman. Once she met Jesus she was never the same, and her name spread wherever the Gospel was preached. Yet she was an outcast, untouchable, and even a sinner rejected by the people. But Jesus was true to what He preached, I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance (Luke 5:32). He welcomed this woman of Samaria, thus breaking the age old tradition of hostility between Jews and the Samaritans. By this Jesus proved that His love is not limited to class, color, or community. Instead, He revealed that He embraces everyone. He does not treat people differently, but with the same love and dignity. The animosity and hatred that existed between these two communities can be understood by the reaction the woman had when Jesus asked her for water. She was shocked and amazed that a Jew would ask her for a drink of water. Even though she believed that the Messiah would come, it was most unlikely that she knew or heard of Jesus until this meeting with Him. Again, look at the reaction of the apostles, who had probably gone to the town to buy food and were not with Him. They were surprised to see Him speaking to a Samaritan woman all alone. For them it must have been a scandal to see Jesus talking to an enemy. Probably Jesus wanted them to see Him talking to her, knowing fully that the law prohibited such meeting. They were His followers, who would be carrying out His mission in the world. He showed them by example that His kingdom has no boundaries. He wanted them to be open to all without any prejudices of gender, color, class or religion. The Samaritan woman not only converted and accepted Him, but she also brought many other Samaritans to Jesus. I am always pained to see that in all His significant stories the lead characters are not Jews, who were His own people. Without the exception of His own mother, whom He gave the greatest honor, there was not a single Jewish person who excelled in virtues. When someone asked Him who his neighbor was, Jesus used the story of a man who fell into the hands of brigands who left him half dead. There was nobody but a Samaritan who was willing to take him to the hospital. His own people did nothing to help the dying person. We should remember the prayer, Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof, but only say the word and my soul shall be healed. This was the prayer of a rich centurion. He had approached Jesus to heal his servant, who was paralyzed and in serious condition. We say this prayer just before the Holy Communion during the celebration of the Holy Mass. Returning to the story of the woman at the well, here we have the example of Jesus talking about the Living Water. It was beyond the Samaritan woman to understand the mystery of her conversation with Jesus. The woman only understood the literal meaning of his words. She was eager to have this water so that she would not be required to come (Continued on page 2)

2 (Continued from page 1) repeatedly to fetch water. Jesus is the everlasting Fountain who never dries up; with Him we will ever live in the green valley of peace and harmony. Jesus was open to everyone. He was never prejudiced and did not have different standards of behavior to different people. In simple words, He treated everyone with love and respect. He might have run into serious objections from the people when He chose Matthew the tax collector to be one of his chosen disciples. Matthew was hated by the people because tax collectors, appointed directly by Rome, were often extortionists and cheated simple people by collecting more tax money than warranted and keeping the difference for themselves. Jesus looks beyond what we can see in people. Jesus was accused of eating with the tax collectors and sinners. They even called Him a glutton. He caused another storm of opposition when He offered to dine at the house of Zacchaeus, who was a public sinner like Mathew. Being short in stature and unable to see Jesus in the crowd, Zacchaeus climbed a tree in order to have a glimpse of Jesus. When Jesus reached the tree, He called to Zacchaeus to come down. Zacchaeus came down from the tree having experienced a total conversion. A sinner was suddenly changed into a saint, and Jesus became his guest at table. Look at the church today, it is sadly wounded by divisions and separations. One fraction fights against another, each claiming to be the true Church. I wonder what Jesus must be thinking about these countless divisions in the church that He built upon the apostles. The only reason for these divisions is that we have lost the spirit of Christ. Jesus, who was born poor and died poor, left behind a spirit of detachment from whatever is worldly and a sincere attachment to things that are heavenly. He was a servant leader even readily accepting the menial job of washing the feet of the apostles. The only way we can reunite the Church is to become Christ-like. Power BIBLE QUIZ 3 GOSPEL OF MATTHEW From Father Louis 1. What is the punishment one gets when one calls somebody you fool? a) liable to the hell of fire b) liable to the council c) liable to the state law d) liable to the Church authorities 2. Concerning prayer Jesus asks us not to be like two groups of People? Who are they? a) Pagans and Hypocrites b) Hypocrites and Pharisees c) Pagans and Pharisees d) Hypocrites and Sinners corrupts and that has wounded the Church. People, in their blind quest for power, have forgotten and sidelined Jesus. The whole world is looking at Pope Francis with the hope that he will bring about a renewal in the Church and the world. Certainly he is a Godsent gift to us, a man after the heart of Jesus. As we celebrate his first anniversary as pope today (March 13, 2014), let us pray God will use Him mightily to bring peace and harmony to the world, and to the Church in particular. If Pope Francis has become a household name all over the world, it s not because of his physical appearance or dynamic personality. Rather, his likeability comes from the fact that he follows Jesus to the letter. He has become another Christ in the world, and is a model for all of us to emulate. St. James the Apostle Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group invites you to Come and Rejoice the 50th Anniversary of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in the USA LIFE IN THE SPIRIT SEMINAR St. James the Apostle Church Saturday, March 25, :00am 4:00pm Speakers: Rev. Rosendo Manalo, Jr. - St. Anne Church, Union City Rev. Antony Vazhappilly, St. James the Apostle Church Rev. Jay Nuthulapati, CPPS - St. Edward Church Contacts: Resty P. Capulong , Shirley Aldana Linda Cabangangan , Vince Ramirez Catholic Charismatic Renewal office # Ask, ; search, ; knock, 4. He took our infirmities and bore our diseases Who told about whom? a) Isaiah about Jesus b) Jeremiah about Jesus c) Moses about Jesus d) Jesus about John the Baptist 5. In which chapter and verse Jesus says that those who are sick need a physician? St. Joseph Men's Club presents A Chuck Wagon Barbecue Saturday, April 1 Please join us for an authentic Chuck Wagon Barbecue hosted by the St. Joseph Men's Club. Live music and entertainment by Rosanna Rainz and a Gold Miner's Cash Raffle so big you'll want a shot at it. Book a whole table so your family, friends, and neighbors can enjoy barbecue together. Proceeds from this event sustain an entire year of community service projects for less fortunate in the parish. St. Joseph Parish Hall, Mission Boulevard, Fremont from 6:30 pm-10:30 pm. Dinner $20 per person. Menu: choice of Tri-Tip or Salmon, Ranch Beans, Salad, Garlic Bread, and Dessert. Gold Miner's 50/50 Cash Raffle tickets $2 each, 7 for $10, and 20 for $20. Prizes will be 10%, 15%, and 25% of raffle proceeds! Need not be present to win. It's a boot-stompin' good time, let us BBQ and do the dishes for you! Contact Al Rendon for information at (510) or wt6k@comcast.net

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4 W S Monday-Saturday Mass: Rosary 8:10am, Mass 8:30am Saturday Mass: 5:00pm Sunday Masses: 8:30am, 10:00am, 12:00noon Holy Days of Obligation: Masses 8:30am & 7:30pm Confessions: Saturday 4:00pm or by appt. Every Friday Adoration: 9:00-10:00am First Fridays: Adoration 9:00 am-6:30pm Sacred Heart Novena 6:30pm Benediction 7:15pm Healing Mass 7:30pm Our Mother of Mass & Novena, Perpetual Help: Wednesdays, 7:30pm D Weekly: Bible Study Wed. 9:30 am (Kitchen) Divine Mercy Chaplet: Thurs, after morning Mass In the Small Chapel: Legion of Mary Tues 9:30am Eternal Life Bible Study Thurs. 7:30pm Hour of Great Mercy Every Friday 3:00pm Charismatic Prayer Meeting 2nd & 3rd Fridays 7:00pm Monthly: Divine Mercy Cenacle Prayer Meeting Our Lady of Vailankanni Respect for Life Rosary Sacred Heart 7:00pm, 2nd and 4th Mondays (Small Chapel) First Saturday 7:00pm Second Sunday 11:00am Grotto 6:30pm 1st Friday Enthronement (formal ceremony to make the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus as the King of the house), please contact: Cora Surla(510) ; or Tessie Ricafort(510) Fr. Antony Vazhappilly, Pastor Ernie Dandan, Deacon BAPTISMS To have your child baptized, please make an appointment with Father Antony. Come to the St. James Parish office or call the church office at For more details, please go to St. James The Apostle Parish Church website - Parish Info. Baptism Preparation/Training class: First Saturday of the month from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm in the Cry Room. Baptism Celebration: Last Saturday of the month from 11:30am - 12:30pm in the church. PLEASE REMEMBER THE YOUNG MEN AND WOMEN SERVING IN THE ARMED SERVICES ESPECIALLY: Pvt. Christopher Mueller, Dorian Fierro, Brian Christopher Carreiro, Sgt. Kristan Jofel T. Carado, Nicolas Ecija, Greg Savella, Major Jenny Ryan, Captain David Evans, Tomás Sandoval Klassen, Laura Skaff, Augustin Vestal, Ruben Casteñeda, John Barr, Alice Ferreira, Agnes Harris, Janis Bumgarner, Fey Elena Del Rosario, Esther Briones, Vilma Sarino, Judy McKenney, Martha Torres, Bob Nehls, Ray Ballin, Jeff Cantu, Juanito Francisco, Amelia Ruiz, Diane Vegas, Conrado Villanueva, Juanita Estrellas, Camila Aloysia, Deacon Ernie Dandan, Dawn Barker, Tammy Bumgarner, JR Bumgarner 2017 Please update this list by calling the parish office at or bulletin@sjapostle.net.

5 COLLECTIONS MARCH 11/12 $ CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT $ Baptism On February 25, 2017, the Parish Family of St. James joyfully welcomed Nathan Jaeyeon Han through the saving waters of Baptism. ANSWERS TO THE BIBLE QUIZ 3 ON PAGE 2: 1. Liable to the hell of fire (5:22) 2. Pagans and Hypocrites (6:5-8) 3. Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you (5:7) 4. Isaiah about Jesus (8:17) 5. (9:12) Mother Teresa Center Reservations. Contact our Facility Manager and Event Coordinator Larry Bellamy , MTC@ sjapostle.net or leave a message at the Parish Office phone (No prices or quotes are given over the phone or in an .) PARISH CALENDAR Mar Bake Sale - Pastoral Council Commitment Weekend Bishop s Appeal Mar 20 Knights of Columbus Business Mtg 7:30pm Mar 26 KofC Quarterly Mass/135th Founder's Day Commemoration. Mar 27 Pastoral Council 7:00pm Bishop Begin Assembly 3546 Bus. Mtg 7:30pm Apr 1-2 Bake Sale - Youth Ministry Apr 3 Knights of Columbus Officer s Mtg 7:30pm Apr 10 St. Vincent de Paul Mtg 7:00pm Apr 17 Knights of Columbus Business Mtg 7:30pm Apr 24 Pastoral Council 7:00pm Bishop Begin Assembly 3546 Bus. Mtg 7:30pm Apr 16 Easter Sunday Apr 23 Divine Mercy Sunday Apr 29 Bake Sale Aug St. James Festival