The Return of the Prodigal Son, by Rembrandt

Transcription

1 The Return of the Prodigal Son, by Rembrandt Fourth Sunday of Lent March 6, 2016

2 Today s Gospel narrates one of the best-known parables in scripture. In response to the complaint of the Pharisees and Scribes, that Jesus eats with sinners, Jesus tells a long story about the prodigal son and his forgiving father. Given the context, the major lesson is one of forgiveness. But why a story of family relationships? Perhaps because often the hardest people to forgive, or to ask for forgiveness, are those closest to us, those whom we should be able to count on not to disrespect or betray us. The younger son, perhaps spoiled, is foolish and ungrateful. He crawls back home only because he is flat broke and starving; he is hardly an admirable character. The father s love goes far deeper than his son s bad behavior, however, and he welcomes him home with open arms. Then there is the older, obedient, hard-working son who pouts because his father throws a party for the wayward brother. Dad makes it clear he is not playing favorites: My son everything I have is yours. But now we must celebrate and rejoice because your brother was dead and has come to life again; he was lost and has been found. (Lk 15:32) Dead? Lost? Yes, relationally and spiritually. Do we recognize any of these relationships within our families? Many parents lose sleep worrying about a son or daughter who is troubled or is in trouble. Sibling rivalry is not uncommon. Some parents pay less attention to the well-behaved child than the difficult one. And, where was the mother in the parable? Did she spoil the younger son; did she scold the father for giving him what he asked for? In contemporary terms, would this family be labeled dysfunctional? Are there really any perfect families? Perhaps most families are normal, or good with dysfunctional moments, and, with God s grace, are able to forgive each other and move beyond the dysfunction. Paul reminds us that God has reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has even given us the ministry of reconciliation (2 Cor. 5: 18) The important thing is to forgive each other. Forgiveness comes more easily when we acknowledge that we are all sinners, all in need of forgiveness, and our loving Parent is always eager to run to meet us and welcome us home. This reflection on today s Gospel on the Prodigal Son was written by Sister Marie Lucey, OSF. She is the Director of Advocacy and Member Relations for Franciscan Action Network (FAN). More information about Franciscan Action Network can be found at This organization is a great resource for connecting our spirituality with issues of peace and justice.

3 Scan this QR code with your smartphone for quick and easy online giving! Packing for the Journey: A Three-Part Series on End-of-Life Issues, to Help You Prepare Please join us for the second session! Tuesday, March 8, will feature an open forum Q&A session hosted by representatives from two local, independent funeral homes Tripp Carter with Bradshaw-Carter, and Joseph Earthman (St. Theresa parishioner) with Joseph J. Earthman Generations. On Tuesday, March 15, Gus Tamborello, PC, probate and estate attorney, will lead us through the complexities of wills and estate planning. Please join us for these educational sessions! This is information that you will need, at some point in your life. A light meal will be served at 6:00 pm on each date. Please RSVP to Ginger Tamborello, g.tamborello@sttheresa.cc. WHERE: WHEN: St. Theresa Fellowship Hall March 1, 6:00 pm March 8, 6:00 pm March 15, 6:00 pm

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5 April 30 Palms and Pizza! Please join us on Saturday, March 19, from 9 am 12 noon in the Fellowship Hall for Palms and Pizza! We need help preparing our palms for Palm Sunday. After, we will enjoy pizza for lunch. Please RSVP to Kathy Corbett, k.corbett@sttheresa.cc by Thursday, March 17, so that we can prepare enough for everyone.

6 Adult Confirmation Classes Adult Confirmation classes will soon begin! Each Sunday, starting April 3, through Sunday, May am in the Fellowship Hall. Please contact Ginger Tamborello for more information or to sign up. If you would like to submit an announcement for our bulletin, please send it to:

7 Preparing for the Holy Triduum Three evenings of scriptural meditations as we prepare for the Holy Triduum Led by Fr. Phil, Dcn. Larry and Suzanne Nawrocki, D.Min. Monday, March 21 You ought to wash one another s feet (John 14:13) Tuesday, March 22 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? (Matt. 27:45) Wednesday, March 23 Peace be with you, when he said this he showed them his hands and his side (John 20:26) Begin with a light meal at 6:30 pm. Please RSVP to Ginger Tamborello g.tamborello@sttheresa.cc Rice Bowls Rice Bowls were sent home with Faith Formation students last month. Please be sure to bring them back to Faith Formation on March 13! For suggestions on how to incorporate Rice Bowls into your family observance of Lent, please visit Please note: Children s Church will not be dismissing during the month of March. We will resume April 3rd.

8 Unity in Diversity Join Archbishop Fiorenza, Rabbi Steve Morgen and Imam Qasim Ahmed on March 14. The Focolare Movement and the UST Youth for a United World Club is presenting Unity in Diversity, an interreligious conference on March 14 at UST. The panel will feature the Most Reverend Joseph Fiorenza, the Archbishop Emeritus of Galveston-Houston, Imam Qasim Ahmed from the Islamic Learning Institute, Rabbi Steve Morgen from Congregation Beth Yeshurun and Therese Lee, the co-director of the Focolare Southwest Region. There will be a Catholic Mass at 6:00 pm in St. Basil's Chapel celebrated by Archbishop Fiorenza to commemorate Focolare Founder, Chiara Lubich s Anniversary. The conference will start at 7:00 p.m. in Jones Hall with light refreshments. For more information and to register for the event see Houston Police For Emergency/Life Threatening Calls: 911 Non-Emergency Calls: Domestic Violence The Bridge Over Troubled Waters 24 Hour Hotline: Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Sex Addicts Anonymous (SAA) HELPFUL NUMBERS Counseling (Grief, Family, etc.) Catholic Charities: Families of Addicts Al-Anon Family Groups Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Overeaters Anonymous (OA)

9 Annie and Doug Raburn Selling bungalows to mansions in and around Houston for the last 20 years TATUM & MONTGOMERY, CPAs 4545 Post Oak Place, Ste. 300 Serving Small Businesses and Individuals since 1976 Henry Nguyen, C.P.A

10 Nifty Cleaners 5901 Washington Ave If you are interested in advertising in our bulletin, please contact Kathy Corbett at Thank you for your support! Sacraments Baptism Contact Ginger Tamborello or visit our website for more information. First Communion & Reconciliation Contact Terra Herce or visit our website for more information. Matrimony Application for Annulment Contact Patrick Miral or visit our website for more information. Confirmation Contact Ginger Tamborello or visit our website for more information. Reconciliation Saturday 4 pm-5 pm Thursday 5:30 pm-6:15 pm

11 Monday, March 7 7:00 am Mass 6:00 pm Lenten Book Club, Fellowship Hall 6:30 pm Meditation Prayer Group, Mary Chapel 7:00 pm Book Club, Brides Room 7:00 pm Young Adult Bible Study, FH Lounge 7:30 pm Boy Scouts, FH Board Room Tuesday, March 8 7:00 am Mass 7:30 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 6:00 pm Packing for the Journey, Fellowship Hall 6:00 pm STECC Advisory Committee, Pastoral Center 6:30 pm Lenten Book Club, Brides Room 7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Church Wednesday, March 9 7:00 am Mass 6:30 pm Women s Encounter, FH Lounge 6:45 pm Baptism Class, Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm Spanish Prayer Group, Brides Room 7:00 pm Legión de María, Sacristy 7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Church 8:15 pm Men s AA, Fellowship Hall Thursday, March 10 7:00 am Mass 7:30 am Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament 5:30 pm Reconciliation 6:00 pm Confirmation Class, Pastoral Center 6:00 pm Knights of Columbus, Fellowship Hall 6:30 pm Women s Club, FH Lounge 6:30 pm Financial Peace University, FH Board Room 6:30 pm Mass 7:30 pm Men s Encounter, FH Brides Room Friday, March 11 6:45 am Rosary for Peace and Respect for Life 7:00 am Mass 8:00 am Lenten Book Club, Sacristy 10:00 am Lenten Book Club, FH Lounge 5:30 pm Fish Fry, Fellowship Hall 7:00 pm Lenten Devotion, Stations of the Cross, Church 8:00 pm Via Crucis, en la Iglesia Saturday, March 12 4:00 pm Reconciliation 5:30 pm Mass Sunday, March 13 8:00 am Mass 8:30 am RCIA, Fellowship Hall 10:00 am Mass 11:30 am Mass in Spanish 5:30 pm Mass Rosary for Peace and Respect for Life March 11 Rob Shanley March 18 Len Emge Mass Intentions Saturday, March 5 5:30 PM Albert Palla Joe Penn Sunday, March 6 8:00 AM Joe Loria Jr. 10:00 AM Pro-Populo (Parishioners) 11:30 AM Stevenson Family Mulvilhill Family 5:30 PM Stafford Dennis Monday, March 7 7:00 AM Hazel, Harold, Eve & Deborah Vicknair Tuesday, March 8 7:00 AM Phillip & Christine Tusa Wednesday, March 9 7:00 AM Francisco Amador Munoz 8:05 AM Juanita Dennis Thursday, March 10 7:00 AM Pamela J. Raymond 6:30 PM Michelle Marks Friday, March 11 7:00 AM Deceased Members of The Urbanovsky Family Saturday, March 12 5:30 PM Christine Bench Elton Kunze Sunday, March 13 8:00 AM Frances & Clem Bilski 10:00 AM Pro-Populo (Parishioners) 11:30 AM Stevenson Family Mulvilhill Family 5:30 PM Robert (Bob) Jankowski *For Mass intentions, contact Deandra in the church office. Next Week s Reader and EMHC Schedule Saturday, March 5 5:30 pm (Team 2) Teresa Albright Glenda Dunn Sunday, March 6 8:00 am (Team 4) Richard Flores Cristela Flores 10:00 am (Team 1) Katie Wilson Pete Musgrove 5:30 pm (Team 1) Caroline Gardner Gilda Mendoza

12 Haskell, Houston, TX Phone: Fax: Pastor: Fr. Phil Lloyd, ext. 312 Deacons Deacon Larry Vaclavik Deacon Francis Tse Deacon Bill Wilson SCHOOL STAFF Principal Melissa Ilski ext. 320 Dean of Students Carman West, ext. 317 Administrative Assistant Rhonda Lastovica, ext. 321 Interim Admissions Coordinator Kelly McCarty, ext. 314 PARISH RESOURCES AND STAFF Development and Advancement Director Enrique Benitez, ext. 315 Pastoral Associate Matrimony or Application for Annulment Patrick Miral, ext. 310 Pastoral Manager /Director of Music and Liturgy Kathy Corbett, ext. 311 Finance Manager, Church and School Cherie Hernandez, ext. 305 Church and School Finance Lidia Chapple, ext. 333 Yen Fite, ext. 329 Johanna Bransford, ext. 309 Director of Adult Education / Hospitality Ginger Tamborello, ext. 306 g.tamborello@sttheresa.cc Faith Formation / Student Ministry Adrian Leal, ext. 308 youthministry@sttheresa.cc Faith Formation / Elementary Terra Herce, ext. 308 t.herce@sttheresa.cc Early Childhood Center Director Cindy Clements, ext. 338 c.clements@sttheresa.cc Receptionist/Clerical Assistant Deandra Mackey, ext. 301 d.mackey@sttheresa.cc Maintenance Supervisor Andras Bandi, ext. 302 andras.bandi@sttheresa.cc Weekend Masses: Saturday Vigil: 5:30 pm Sunday: 8:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:30 am (Spanish), 5:30 pm Daily Mass: Monday through Friday at 7 am, Thursday at 6:30 pm Holy Day Masses: 7 am, 12:10 pm, & 6:30 pm