October 28, 2018 Open Mind Open Heart Open Door JESUS HEALS MAN BORN BLIND ST JAMES YOUTH CAMP 2018

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1 October 28, 2018 Open Mind Open Heart Open Door JESUS HEALS MAN BORN BLIND A man born blind made his living as a beggar, He begged daily, whether rain or shine, didn t matter. One Sabbath day Jesus came and saw his blindness, Jesus restored the blind man with sight in His kindness. With His saliva Jesus, first of all, made clay, And smeared it on the man s eyes in a humble way. Go and wash in the pool of Siloam, Jesus said. He could see, after he washed, as Jesus had said. The blind man s healing caused a big controversy, Many were upset and became very noisy, Jesus healing on Sabbath they did not approve, He violated the Sabbath rule people would prove. The Pharisees questioned the blind man many times, The stories of healing by Jesus they thought were lies. They questioned his parents to find out his background, Affirming him as their son, they stood well their ground. The blind man repeated what Jesus did for him, The Jews cross examined him with their faces grim. The blind man defended Jesus and showed no fear, The Jews threw him out but he was calm at their jeer. The blind man recognized Jesus as Son of Man, Worshipping Him as Savior he became His fan. Lord, many a time I am spiritually blind, To reach out to those in need make me always kind. Questions: 1. Which stanza is a reflection of you? 2. Why does God permit people to be born blind? 3. What opportunity to grow closer to God do you see this Lent? 4. What actions will you take for the next 40 days? (Continued on page 2) ST JAMES YOUTH CAMP 2018 Don t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 Head of Youth Leaders Camp: Billy Galang, Jessalyn Arteta, and Angelo Felipe Youth Leaders: Michael Chadwick, Jan Cierra, Erin Nguyen, Kim Trinos, Audrey Hernandez, Sean Cantoria, Matthew Pena, Brandon Rili Fremont Blvd Fremont, CA office@sjapostle.net

2 Message from Father Antony (Continued from page 1) Reflections: Among all the miraculous healings that Jesus performed, none spurred such controversy like the healing of a man born blind. This miracle where Jesus healed the blind man is reported by John (John: 9: 1-41). This miracle would eventually underpin one of the most convincing accusations the Jews brought against Jesus. Time was running out and the Pharisees and the elders were desperate to find reasons to arrest Jesus. The only crime punishable by death, according to the Roman law, was treason, and only Rome had the authority to condemn someone to death by crucifixion. All their meticulous plots and scheming had so far failed to trap Jesus. Jesus was still performing His ministry openly. One day, as Jesus was passing by, He saw a beggar who was born blind from his birth. As Jesus approached him the disciples wanted to know what the cause of his blindness was. The Jews believed that physical deformities like blindness, deafness and muteness, or even some physical sicknesses, are caused by God as punishment for sins or because of the sins committed by their parents or relatives. They also reasoned that a woman incapable of conceiving and becoming a mother was considered as suffering God s punishment. These barren women were the ridicule and taunt of their neighbors. Jesus dismissed this claim and affirmed that it was caused neither by his sins nor by the sins of his parents. It was rather for the glory of God. Jesus then went on to make clay by mixing the mud with His saliva, and smeared the clay on the blind man s eyes. Then Jesus told him to go and wash the eyes in the pool of Siloam. The blind man did as he was told and was instantly able to see. Suddenly the blind man became the center of attention. Some recognized him as the beggar they used to see in the street every day. Others opined that he just looked like the beggar but was someone else. The blind man cleared up the confusion by asserting that he was the man who had been born blind. They were curious to know what happened to him and who had cured him. He described everything in detail, but they did not believe him. And so they brought him to the Pharisees for cross examination. Jesus had made clay on the Sabbath. According to the law Sabbath was to be kept holy. Some of them immediately claimed that the one who broke the Sabbath law by curing a blind man could not be from God, while others asked how a sinful person could perform such an extraordinary sign. The Jews further questioned the parents of the blind man to ascertain whether he was truly their son. They affirmed him to be their son and that he was born blind. However, they did not answer how he was able to see. They were afraid of being expelled from the synagogue. The Jews had already warned that if anyone claimed Jesus to be Christ they would be expelled. The Jews did not want to give the credit to Jesus and accept Him as the Son of God. This miracle was not done in a private setting unseen by others. If the Pharisees were sincerely looking for information they could have easily found it, for there were many people who knew the blind man. There would have been many witnesses to testify that he was born blind and that they had seen Jesus smearing his eyes with clay. They had also heard Jesus telling the blind to go and wash in the pool of Siloam. These facts were all public. The Jews were prejudiced against Jesus. Accepting the miracle done by Jesus would lead them to accept Jesus as Christ. If they accepted Him as Christ they would be unable to execute their plan of crucifying Him. In contrast, we can say that the blind man was only physically blind. Spiritually he was sharper than the people who had questioned him. He had the simple common sense to believe that if Jesus was a sinful man he would have never restored his sight. The Pharisees tried to impress upon him that Jesus was an evil charlatan. Though poor and illiterate, the blind man had more wisdom than everybody else. Later on the blind man was expelled from the synagogue. Knowing this, Jesus met him again and asked him if he would believe in the Son of God. Who is he, sir that I may believe in him? Jesus revealed Himself to him. The blind man fully accepted Jesus as his Savior by worshiping Him. This story of Jesus miracle makes for wonderful reading during the season of Lent. This story has not lost its relevance and significance even to this day. Spiritual blindness prevented the Pharisees from recognizing Jesus as the Savior. The folly of the Pharisees was that they did not admit that they were blind. They accused others of it but could not see it in themselves. They were not bad people. They had lot of good will. But their faith was something else. Spiritual blindness is a common decease even today. Spiritual blindness makes you one sided. A spiritually blind person sees only part of the truth and mistakes it be the whole truth. When Jesus said hanging from the cross, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing, He was talking about their spiritual blindness. Any one of us can fall into this trap. We need to examine ourselves every day to see if we are suffering from it. There is danger everywhere we look. A spiritually blind person is quick to judge others. They can become very critical about others and their actions. They will never see in themselves the same shortcomings they condemn in others. Spiritually blind people exaggerate their own good deeds, magnifying them beyond proportion. They have an attitude that they are doing enough for God and His people. Ultimately, the spiritually blind does not see Jesus and His teaching. As long as they do not see Jesus they cannot see God either. One day Philip asked Jesus, Lord, show us the Father and it is enough for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been so long a time with you, and you have not known me? Philip, he who sees me sees also the Father (John: 14:8-9). Here is the test for you to determine if you are suffering from spiritual blindness: Do you recognize all that you have are God s gifts to you and they come from Him? Do you understand you are called by God to share a portion of what you have with people who are less fortunate? Do you admit that your parish is your responsibility and you are expected to serve it by sharing your time, treasure and talent? If your answer is YES to these three questions you are spiritual sight is sound. Mother Teresa Center Reservations. Contact our Facility Manager & Event Coordinator Larry Bellamy, , MTC@sjapostle.net or leave a message at the Parish Office (No prices or quotes are given over the phone or in an .) The Lord has done great things for us; SUNDAY NOVEMBER 4 St. James Bulletin and Website since 2007 Submission deadline is two weeks before publication date. articles to: bulletin@sjapostle.net. Send information for the webpage to: webmaster@sjapostle.net Carolyn Fiori... Editor Facebook: Search St. James the Apostle Church, Like the page. IF posting pictures, you must get consent from the people in the photo (per Oakland diocese Safe Environment). Please, NO tagging pictures.

3 COLLECTIONS OCTOBER 20/21 $ CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT $ WORLD MISSIONS $ Donation Envelope Users: Please put the amount of your donation in the space provided. It really helps reduce the time spent in counting. Your not folding your cash donations is much appreciated by the counters on Monday. Thank you! TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION This week we have in All Souls Day a commemoration that is linked to the Halloween customs. The big-spending sugar shock holiday is a long way removed from Thursday s grateful remembrance of the souls who are hidden from our sight, but alive to Christ. Old pagan superstitions might find us holding our breath when going by the graveyard, whereas others might actually go to the cemetery to tend the family graves, to share good food, and remember dear ones. Nowhere does a culture embrace this day as fully as in Mexico. The Day of the Dead is a national holiday that unfolds over three full days. For three thousand years, the indigenous people of Mexico have been mocking death in an annual festival, and the invading Spaniards were shocked at the spectacle. To the Aztecs, life was a dream, and death was the entry into full life. Skulls were thus a symbol of joy and release from life s sorrows. The missionaries found all this a bit creepy, but they moved the three-day feast from August to synchronize it with the Christian calendar. So today, graves are decorated, altars are built in the home to honor the family dead, children feast on candy skulls, and people dress up in elaborate skeleton outfits. The devout spend hours in the cemetery, and there is a lively sense of the communion of saints, the living and the dead. Rev. James Field, J. S. Paluch Today is the feast of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales, the first representative body of many Catholics who died for their faith between 1535 and 1679 to be beatified or canonized. Almost all of them died at Tyburn, a place of public execution near today s Marble Arch in Hyde Park, London. The first to suffer were Carthusian monks who refused to swear an oath supporting Henry VIII as supreme head of the Church in England, and the last was Saint Oliver Plunkett, the Primate Archbishop of Ireland. The method of execution was particularly vile, since the condemned were hanged and their living bodies quartered to be displayed around London as a horrific warning. Please remember those in the armed services: Pvt. Christopher Mueller, Dorian Fierro, Brian Christopher Carreiro, Sgt. Kristan Jofel T. Carado, Greg Savella, Major Jenny Ryan, Captain David Evans And Parishioners and friends who need our prayers or who are ill John DiPaola, Evelyn Reyes, Frank Smith, Concha Garcia, Todd Wetherwax, Deacon Ernie Dandan, Joel Rivera, Melanie O Connor, Katherine Gomes, Lydia DeGraf, Judy McKenney, Tomás Sandoval Klassen, Laura Skaff, Alice Ferreira, Agnes Harris, Ray Ballin, Bob Nehls, Dawn Barker, Martha Torres, Tammy Bumgarner, Margarete Matulich, Carl Dubose To add names to this list, please contact the parish office at or bulletin@sjapostle.net. PARISH CALENDAR Oct 28 St. Jude Feast Day Oct 28 5:00 pm Dinner Dance Oct 30 Pastoral Council 7:00pm Nov 1 All Saints Day Masses 8:30am & 7:30 pm Nov 2 All Souls Day Mass 8:30am & 7:30pm (Healing Mass) Nov 5 KofC Officer s Meeting 7:30pm Nov 11 KofC Novena Prayer for the Unborn after 10am Mass Nov 17 Bake Sale - MOMs Nov 12 St. Vincent de Paul Meeting 7:00pm Nov 19 KofC Business Meeting 7:30pm Nov 22 Bishop Begin Assembly 3546 Bus. Mtg 7:30pm Nov 27 Pastoral Council 7:00pm Dec 2 Bake Sale - Youth Dec 3 KofC Officer s Meeting 7:30pm Dec 9 KofC Novena Prayer for the Unborn after 10am Mass Dec 9 Parish Christmas Party Dec 10 St. Vincent de Paul Meeting 7:00pm Dec 12 Finance Council Meeting 6:30 pm Dec Simbang Gabi (See flap for information) Dec 17 KofC Business Meeting 7:30pm Dec 25 Pastoral Council (to be cancelled or re-scheduled) Dec 27 Bishop Begin Assembly 3546 Bus. Mtg 7:30pm Dec 31 New Year s Eve Dinner Dance Jan 6 Santo Niño Fiesta Devotion Schedule on the Flap READINGS FOR THE WEEK Mon: Eph 4:32 5:8; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 13:10-17 Tues: Eph 5:21-33 or 5:2a, 25-33; Ps 128:1-5; Lk 13:18-21 Wed: Eph 6:1-9; Ps 145:10-14; Lk 13:22-30 Thurs: Rv 7:2-4, 9-14; Ps 24:1-6; 1 Jn 3:1-3; Mt 5:1-12a Fri: Wis 3:1-9; Ps 23:1-6; Rom 5:5-11 or 6:3-9; Jn 6:37-40, or any readings from no. 668 or from the Masses for the Dead, nos Sat: Phil 1:18b-26; Ps 42:2, 3, 5cdef; Lk 14:1, 7-11 Sun: Dt 6:2-6; Ps 18:2-4, 47, 51; Heb 7:23-28; Mk 12:28b-34 KNIGHT S CORNER Would you like to join the Men in Blue Blazers? The Knights of Columbus of St. James the Apostle Council No is accepting applicants. A prospective candidate must be a practicing Catholic and at least 18 years of age. This is a great opportunity for single and married men to serve God and the parish s community activities, set an example for its youth and make families closer to God. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Cesar Nepacena, , ladylim@sbcglobal.net. Also, ask a Knight! Thank you. We are men of faith & men of action. we are glad indeed. Psalm 126:3

4 WORSHIP SCHEDULE 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 DEVOTIONS Weekly: Bible Study Divine Mercy Chaplet: In the Small Chapel: Legion of Mary Eternal Life Bible Study Charismatic Prayer Meeting Wed. 9:30 am (Kitchen) Thurs, after morning Mass Tues 9:30am Thurs. 7:30pm 2nd & 3rd Fridays 7:00pm Monthly: Divine Mercy Cenacle 7:00pm, 2nd and 4th Prayer Meeting Mondays (Small Chapel) Our Lady of Vailankanni First Saturday 7:00pm Respect for Life Rosary Second Sunday 11:00am Grotto Sacred Heart 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) PARISH OFFICE HOURS M-F 9:00AM TO NOON REGISTRATION IN THE PARISH Warmest welcome to all who worship in our Community. If you are not registered in the Parish, please complete a registration form available at church entrance or at the Parish Office. ANOINTING OF THE SICK Please call the Parish Office when a parishioner is home-bound or hospitalized to arrange for Holy Communion and Anointing of the Sick. MARRIAGES AND BAPTISMS Please contact the Parish Office at least 6 months in advance for weddings and 3 months in advance for baptisms. BAPTISMS To have your child baptized, please make an appointment with Father Antony. Come to the St. James Parish office or call the Parish Office at For more details, please go to the Church website (Parish Info) or contact Marcial Vasco Baptism Preparation/Training class: First Saturday of the month from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm in the Small Chapel. Baptism Celebration: Last Saturday of the month 11:30am-12:30pm in the church FUNERALS We recommend using Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services / Holy Sepulchre Cemetery and Holy Angels Funeral and Cremation Services. You may contact Shirley X 133. MOTHER TERESA CENTER RESERVATIONS. Contact our Facility Manager & Event Coordinator Larry Bellamy ( , MTC@sjapostle.net) or leave a message at the Parish Office. (No prices or quotes are given over the phone or in an .) Fr. Antony Vazhappilly, Pastor Ernie Dandan, Deacon

5 Simbang Gabi (Dawn Masses) 5:30am 2018 Mass Sponsors Mass for the Living/ Deceased Please note: Date availability is on a first come, first served basis. Deadline: December 14, Thank you. Name(s): (Living) Name(s): (Deceased) Per Person (Living or Deceased: $25.00 Per Family (Living and/or Deceased: Minimum Offering : $50.00 Please make check payable to St. James Food donations encouraged. Call Solita Cruz for information: All donations go towards building our new church. Phone #: Received by: Check No. Amount: Cash: $ Receipt Phone #: Dates: Received by: Check No. Amount: Cash: $ Please return form to the Parish Office