April 3, 2011 Fourth Sunday of Lent CORPUS CHRISTI CATHOLIC CHURCH 6300 McKenna Drive, Mobile, Alabama 36608 Email: Church@CorpusChristiParish.com! Website: www.corpuschristiparish.com TELEPHONE NUMBERS Parish Office: 342-1852 Fax 342-6313 School Office: 342-5474, ext. 1 Fax 380-0325 Rel. Ed. Office: 342-5474, ext. 7 Fax 380-0325 Preschool Office: 342-2424 Fax 343-3119 Youth Ministry: 342-1852 Fax 342-6313 PASTORAL STAFF Very Rev. James F. Zoghby, V.F., Pastor Rev. John S. Boudreaux, Associate Pastor Deacon Arthur W. Robbins, Deacon Sr. Donna Cooper, R.S.M., Visitation Chaplain Mrs. Judi B. Ankiewicz, Pastoral Assistant Mrs. Joan T. McMullen, School Principal Mrs. Linda M. Hawkins, Preschool Director Mrs. Kathleen Q. Jester, Parish Catechetical Leader Mrs. Colleen DeVoe, Youth Ministry Co-Director Mrs. Brenda Martens, Youth Ministry Co-Director Mr. Matthew F. Purvis, Music Director Mr. Jay H. Henley, Gym Manager TO REGISTER AS A MEMBER OF THE PARISH Please fill out a Census Form. Census Forms are available in the church vestibule and parish office. COMMUNITY CENTER RENTALS & SERVICES For rental information and kitchen services, please call the parish office at 342-1852 or 342-1420. SUNDAY MASSES Vigil: 5:30 p.m. Saturday Morning: 7:00, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. W EEKDAY MASSES 6:30 a.m.: Monday through Friday 8:15 a.m.: Monday through Saturday SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Saturday: 5:00 p.m. and by request, particularly after the 6:30 & 8:15 a.m. weekday Masses. BAPTISM, MARRIAGE, ANOINTING OF SICK Please call the parish office (342-1852) or information and scheduling baptism, marriage, anointing of sick. ADULT RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (R.C.I.A.) Please see published schedule for specific dates and times, or call the parish office (342-1852). SUNDAY SCHOOL (C.C.D.) Grades K 12, Sundays during school year, 10:05-10:55 a.m. in school bldgs. SCHOOL, SACS-accredited for Grades K through 8. For info & registration, please call the school office. PRESCHOOL, State-licensed for 6-week to 4-yr. olds. For info & registration, please call the preschool office
FOURTH S UNDAY OF LENT Sacrament of Reconciliation Wednesdays April 6 & 13 The light is on for you. 6-8 p.m. and Communal Reconciliation Service Monday, April 18, 7 p.m. 11 priests will be present. Stations of the Cross & Mass Lenten Fridays through April 15 6:30 p.m. Stations of the Cross 7 p.m. Mass Lenten Food Drive Through April 3 For Catholic Social Services and St. Vincent de Paul food pantries Grocery bags with suggested food items are at church entrance. R.C.I.A. & Continuing Ed for Catholic and Non-Catholic Adults Questions? Please call 342-1852 to speak with one of the priests, who will be happy to answer any questions. Through April 20 Wednesdays, 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Adult Education Room in the Community Center Bible Study Groups Sun: 8:45-10 a.m.: School Conference Room., Ken Crowley, 423-6921. Tue:, 1:30-3 pm : Genesis, Com.Ctr., Adult Ed. Rm., Judi Ankiewicz, 344-0321. nd Tue, 7 p.m..: Com Ctr, 2 Flr, Complete Bible Course. Dave Burchette, 633-4242. Society of St. Vincent de Paul Poor Box, Food, Clothing donations put in the designated places in the vestibule are distributed by our St. Vincent de Paul Society To obtain assistance, call 432-5173 and leave name & phone no. st rd nd Meetings: 1 & 3 Wed., 7 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm. (2 Flr.) Women of Mary Tuesdays, 9 to 10 a.m. OR Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m., in the Family Room. All women are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Judi Ankiewicz, 344-0321, or Sr. Deborah Kennedy, R.S.M., 316-3960. School Openings Available Registration for the 2011-2012 School Year continues. Please call the School Office (342-5474, ext. 1) for registration information. SCHOOL NEWS National Junior Honor Society YARD SALE! You can put any items to donate in the box in the vestibule labeled 'NJHS yard sale'. The yard sale will be held in the school gym on April 9, 2011 from 7 A.M. to 1 P.M. All proceeds from the sale will go to the Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF). ARF will be at the yard sale with some of their animals that you can adopt or just to see and pet them! Please come and support this great cause!' 40 Days for Life Stand for Life Join fellow parishioners & others in praying, fasting, standing at the Planned Parenthood abortion clinic on Wednesdays for an end to abortion.. Celebrate Life Pilgrimage Sat., April 9, 8-9:30 a.m. Starts with Mass at Christ the King Church, Daphne; ends with Benediction at The Shrine of the Holy Cross Church and a Continental breakfast provided at the K of C Hall. All are welcome! (An 8:45-9:45 a.m. Holy Hour of Adoration also will be held at The Shrine of the Holy Cross Church for those who are unable to walk the pilgrimage ) Fish-Fry Fridays April 8 & 15 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Corpus Christi Community Center Banquet Hall Adult Plate $6. Child s Plate $4. Hungry Man s Plate $7 (2 extra pieces of fish). To-Go Plate, $7 Included in the plate price: Fish (3 pc.of fish per adult plate; 2 pc. of fish per child plate), Coleslaw, Grits, Choice of French Fries or Baked Potato, Tea or Lemonade. Additional food & beverage choices: Cheese Pizza by the slice, $1; Gumbo, $3; Extra Side, $1 Soda, $1. Beer provided on donation basis. Desserts provided for sale by the Boy Scouts. Knights of Columbus nd nd Meeting: 2 Tues., Apr. 12, 7 p.m., Com. Ctr. Conf. Rm.. (2 Flr). Contact: Grand Knight, Bill Hamilton, 377-2661. Men of St. Joseph Tuesdays, 7 to 8 a.m. in the Family Room All men are welcome to meet for prayer, reading the Gospel, and discussion. Info: Jim Donaghey, jbd@orthomobile.com or www.menofstjoseph.com. Hearing Assistance Available in Vestibule Two types of receivers: one fits in the ear and one is simply worn around the neck of a person who wears a hearing aid.
CORPUS CHRIS TI CHURCH, MOBILE, ALABAMA APRIL 3, 2 0 1 1 Come to the Corpus Christi Booster Club Cash Bash! This coming Saturday! April 9, 6:30 p.m. Corpus Christi Community Center, Banquet Hall Tickets are $100 for a chance to win up to $10,000.00, and include dinner & drinks for two and door prizes. Last year s proceeds were used to construct new locker rooms in the Gym. This year s proceeds will go to refurbishing the gym restrooms, providing new water fountains and, if enough funds are raised, to starting work on repairing the outside bleachers on the athletic field. Please support these needed improvements For Tickets or more info, call Ellen Maxime at 379-1866. Altar Server Training Friday, April 8, 3:30 p.m. SUNDAY SCHOOL (CCD) Sunday School Lenten Project: Collecting food for Corpus Christi s St. Vincent de Paul Society to help feed the hungry poor. Volunteer needed for Children s Liturgy of the Word for April s 5:30 p.m. Mass and for May s 11 a.m. Mass. Please sign up at the Liturgical Ministers table in the vestibule. Wednesday Night Dinner 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the Banquet Hall of the Community Center $8.00 for Adults! $3.00 for Children Includes Iced Tea & Coffee. Wine glasses are provided for those who bring wine. April 6: Baked Chicken, Rice & Gravy, Seasoned Green Beans, House Salad w/dressing, Rolls, Banana Pudding. Reservation Envelopes in the vestibule. The Women s Club All women are invited to attend and join. st nd Meetings: 1 Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Com. Ctr., 2 Floor. Lenten Prayer Service: Tues., Apr. 12, 7 p.m.. upstairs in the community center. Bring a soup, bread or salad to share. Fr. Zoghby and Fr. Boudreaux will lead the prayer service. Info: Barbara Collette at 767-1638 or Earline Thorne at 414-3507. Cub Scouts Den Mtgs: Mon., Apr. 4 & 11; Tues., Apr. 5 & 12. Space Derby/Pack Mtg.: Tues., Apr. 19, 6 p.m., Gym. Savings Cards available from any Cub Scout for $5. Info: Janet Minto, 343-5169 or janmin@bellsouth.net. BAPTIZED IN CHRIS T Isabella Claire Whiteker (daughter of Shawn Allen Whiteker & Rose Marie Blick Whiteker) Welcom e New Pa ris h ioners James & Jordan Kachel and their daughter, Aubrey César & Tesy Rivera High School Youth Ministry Event MOVIE NIGHT Sunday, April 17 6:00-8:00pm Corpus Christi Community Center Join us for a great evening watching the movie "To Save a Life". If you missed this in the theaters last year you don't want to miss it this month. The movie is about a popular athletic teen boy who experiences the untimely death of a close friend and how he looks at life differently after this devastating event. This is a very moving PG-13 movie and a MUST for every teen who has had to deal with social pressures from their peers. Check out the trailer on the website: http://tosavealifemovie.com/ and parents are welcome to preview the movie by calling Colleen DeVoe 342-2722 to arrange a time. We'll provide the pizza & some great movie theater popcorn from Mobile Popcorn. YOU bring yourselves, a friend and $1. ROSARY after 8:15 a.m. weekday Mass. Around the Archdiocese: Mobile s Ronald McDonald th House & the Red Shoe Krewe s 8 Annual Bunny Hop Fundraiser to benefit Ronald McDonald House, Sun., Apr. 10, 1:30-3:30 pm Bring your baskets to the Sculpture Park at USA Children s & Women s Hospital for an Easter eggstravaganza. Petting Zoo, games, crafts, food, face-painting, balloons, spacewalk and more! Children (ages 3-10) $8 in advance, $10 at the door. Parents & infants welcome free of charge. For tickets call 694-6873. Free parking behind $1700 Spring Hill Ave. Rain Date: April 17. Mobile Deanery Archdiocesan Council of Catholic Women will sponsor a Tre Ore service at St. Pius X Church, Good Friday, April 22, at 12 noon; homilist, Fr. Johnny Savoie, pastor of St. Phillip Neri Church. Archangel Radio Pledge Drive 2011: Tune In to Archangel radio 1410 am for the biggest party on Catholic Radio! The 1st annual Archangel Radio Pledge Drive April 27, 28,and 29. Join us for 3 full days of Special Guests from all over the country as well as many local personalities. Please visit WNGL1410am.com for more info. SPECIAL COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND: Easter Flowers. FIRST COLLECTION TODAY for tithing offerings. SECOND COLLECTION TODAY for Catholic Relief Services: Please Note: Money collected for C.R.S. over the amount collected last year will be specifically designated to help the people of Japan. TH MAR 27 BUILDING FUND ONLINE & COLLECTION: $2,631.00 TH MAR 27 TITHING ONLINE & COLLECTION: $24,401.40 Thank You and God Bless You God bless all who faithfully tithe and contribute to the support of God's work here at Corpus Christi, and those who make a special bequest in their will for Corpus Christi Church. To make a direct donation of stock, contact your stockbroker, or call Steve Setterstrom at Citigroup Global Mkts. at 470-1060. Receive a record of your contributions by mail, email or fax at any time: Call 342-1852 or email Church@CorpusChristiParish.com Online Giving If you wish to use the online giving option, go to our parish website (www.corpuschristiparish.com): click Church ; then click the green Online Giving icon on the left, and follow the instructions to make your contribution(s) to the tithing fund, building fund or special collections. For direct assistance call 1-800-348-2886, ext 4.
Liturgical Colors On a Sunday before Christmas a visitor to our parish looked out over the congregation and remarked, Isn t it great to see so many people wearing red for Christmas? I politely agreed. But inside I knew another reason: The local football team had a game that afternoon, and a good many church-goers were actually sporting the team colors. Purple vestments and hangings in church during Lent make our eyes take notice. Before we sing about these forty days, before we notice the Glory to God is missing, before they substitute a new Gospel acclamation for that word we re not supposed to say during Lent (Alleluia) our eyes have meditated on purple, and told us a new season has come. Why do we have liturgical colors? Why do they affect us? Even in the secular world we associate colors with particular celebrations: red and green for Christmas, purple and yellow for Easter, red-white-and-blue for the fourth of July, white for the bridal gown. Schools have colors, so do doctoral robes, and of course, sports teams. The early Church used only one liturgical color: white for the resurrection and for the newly-baptized and the new life attained in the risen Christ. Not until the 12 th century, when dyes were more commonplace, did liturgical colors start to become law. In the western, Latin Rite (the predominant rite in the Church) there are four liturgical colors: white, green, violet, red. (There are over 20 Eastern Rites in our Church which use other colors, including blue.) In the Latin Rite, white is used for festive days and saints, red for martyrs and the Holy Spirit, green for the daily life of what we call ordinary time, and violet or purple for the penitential season of Lent. With these four colors, other colors are often used as trim: such as blue trim on the white for feasts of the Blessed Mother, and blue trim or bluer hues with the violet for the season of Advent to distinguish it from the penitential season of Lent. Liturgical colors help us meditate on the seasons of the year and the meaning of life. 1994 Resource Publications, Inc. Pretzels! Pretzels had their origin in early Christian lenten practices. Because fat, eggs and milk were forbidden during Lent, a special bread was made with dough consisting of only flour, salt, and water. These little breads were shaped in the form of arms crossed in prayer and were called bracellae (Latin, little arms ). Among the Germans the Latin word became bretzel, and in England, pretzel. These pretzels were a common Lenten food through the Middle Ages in Europe, and became an all year round snack, in its original shape, only in the last century. Bee Loving... Whatever happened to the killer bees? Remember when California was in a panic a few years ago because swarms of killer bees had invaded the state? Four hundred sixtytwo square miles had been quarantined for fear of a massive death toll. Six months later, only a small percentage of the bees had been killed, but there had been no human fatalities, and all the rest of the bees had been pacified. How had this miracle taken place? What new forms of chemicals had overcome such a serious threat? None! The killer bees were changed by mingling and living together with the native California bees. The natural aggression of the invading killer bees had been overcome by the native California bees with their placid, gentle temperaments. Love and acceptance are always stronger than hate and aggression. As we leave Mass with the blessing, Go in peace to love and serve the Lord, we are reminded that the only way we can serve the Lord is in peace and love, and our Thanks be to God is the confirmation of our commitment to that kind of service. The 10 largest Christian bodies in the United States are: 1. The Catholic Church: 68.5 million 2. Southern Baptist Convention: 16.1 million 3. The United Methodist Church: 7.8 million 4. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons): 6 million 5. The Church of God in Christ: 5.5 million 6. National Baptist Convention: 5 million 7. Evangelical Lutheran Church: 4.5 million 8. National Baptist Convention: 3.5 million 9. Assemblies of God: 2.9 million 10. Presbyterian Church: 2.7 million
Strong Enough To Be Kind Few virtues are more misunderstood or less appreciated than that of Christian kindness. Unfortunately we tend to associate kindness with being soft, or weak, or even a wimp. Nothing could be further from the truth. Only the strong can be kind. Genuine kindness demands that we are sure enough in ourselves to forget ourselves and remember others. The truly kind person is one who is big enough to overlook the slights of others. Kindness is a virtue by which we meet the needs of others as well as our own. Jesus was strong enough to be kind to the children, the prostitutes, the public sinners, to the learned who came by night out of fear, to the mighty soldier who wanted his servant healed, and the countless men and women who were burdened by daily life. They knew they could find in Jesus a strength to be kind and a willingness to share the burdens of others. We each express kindness according to our gifts. Yet of this we can be sure: when we are strong enough to be kind, we are most like Jesus. Fr. William F. Maestri, My Way Of The Cross Journal God s Fatherly/Motherly Love God s love has many aspects. God loves us as our Father. God s love for us as our Father is a strong and faithful love a love that is full of mercy. It is the reality of God s love for us as our Father that explains why Jesus told us when we pray to address God as Abba, Father. Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you. See, upon the palms of my hands I have written your name. (Isaiah 49:15-16) It is also true to say that God s love for us is like that of a Mother. God s love is tender and merciful, patient and full of understanding. In the scriptures and also in the living memory of the Church, the love of God is indeed depicted and has been experienced as the compassionate love of a Mother. Jesus himself expressed a compassionate love when he wept over Jerusalem, and when he said: O Jerusalem... how often have I longed to gather your children as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings... Pope John Paul II The image of a mother and child is a sign of the tender and maternal love of God. Pope Benedict XVI Nothing is so strong as gentleness; nothing is so gentle as real strength. St. Francis de Sales I would rather make mistakes in kindness and compassion than work miracles in unkindness and hardness. Blessed Theresa of Calcutta Who has ever seen people persuaded to love God by harshness? St. John of The Cross I have never, never in all my life, succeeded when I spoke with the faintest trace of harshness. I have always noted that if one wishes to move another s mind one must be ever so careful not to embitter that person s heart. St. Vincent de Paul Do you want to know one of the best ways to win over people and lead them to God? It consists in giving them joy and making them happy. St. Francis of Assisi The more holy someone is, the more cordial they should be with others. Although you may be pained because their conversation is not what you wish, never keep aloof if you want to help them and win their love. St. Teresa of Avila To love a human being means to accept him, to love him as he is. If you wait to love him until he has got rid of his faults, until he is different, you are only loving an idea. Blessed Julian of Norwich The glory of Christianity is to conquer by forgiveness. W illiam Blake
To most, even good people, God is a belief. To the saints, God is an embrace. Francis Thompson Consider that no one whether friend or brother, father or mother, lover or spouse loves you more than your God. St. Alphonsus Ligouri Rediscover the joy of the faith, the joy of being personally loved by God, who gave his son Jesus for our salvation. To believe consists above all in entrusting oneself to the God who knows us and personally loves us. Despite our weaknesses and our sins, God loves us. Benedict XVI Respect that Table in which we all participate. After participating in such a Table, and communing such Food, why take up arms against one another? Not only arrows and javelins cause wounds. Certain words inflict more profound wounds. A word pronounced against your brother is poison shot from your mouth. If your neighbor harmed you, ask God to show mercy to him. He is your brother, a member of Christ s body. He is called to one same Table with you. St. John Chrysostom (d. 407) from a sermon, The Eucharist & Brotherhood A Christian who has not learned to see and love Christ in his neighbor is not fully Christian. We are our brothers keepers; we are bound to each other by the bond of love. Pope John Paul II The Heart of Christ Lord, you invite all who are burdened to come to You. Allow your healing hand to heal me. Touch my soul with Your compassion for others. Touch my heart with Your courage and infinite love for all. Touch my mind with Your wisdom, that my mouth may always proclaim your praise. Teach me to reach out to You in my need, and help me to lead others to You by my example. Most loving Heart of Jesus, bring me health in body and spirit that I may serve You with all my strength. Touch gently this life which you have created, now and forever. Amen. Godly Mercy The saints remind us that God wants and expects us to have mercy on others. We are to build others up rather than tear them down. Maybe they need tough love, but that does not give us license to use the clenched fist of anger or the whip of revenge. Everyone has a claim on our mercy, strangers as well as loved ones. No one exists who does not need mercy. We are all weak, and the strength we do have can vanish in a blink. There is a sense in which we need to have mercy on ourselves as well by not being too hard on ourselves for our failings. And we need to realize that we don t have mercy on others because we think we are better than they. That mercy is arrogance. Rather, we have mercy because we identify with others, we see how much we are alike. We see them as fellow pilgrims, as brothers and sisters. As we treat others, so we will be treated. What a blessing it will be when we fall and need mercy if we have been merciful to others. For we can confidently look for God s mercy. Fr. Bernard Schumacher, O.S.B. Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37
Dear Padre, Generally, I sit in the front pew at Mass. A few weeks ago I was unavoidably late and took a place in the back pews. It was quite an eye-opener. What really shocked me was that some people, after receiving Communion, walked right on out the door! Can you believe it? Surprised Dear Surprised, Yes, I can believe it. Certainly, there are times when leaving Mass early is necessary: people become ill; children become uncontrollable; physicians and others get emergency calls; some people have physical disabilities and can t handle the crowded exits; others have emotional difficulties, such as panic attacks and claustrophobia, and it s wonderful they can stay all the way through Communion. So we really can t judge the motive of each person who leaves early. To some extent, however, some cultural conditioning has probably rubbed off on many of us. We re so accustomed to fast-food-service in our society that the same attitude can prevail at the Eucharist and at home. One hamburger, fries and cola, please. A few words from the Bible, a few prayers and Communion, and make it quick, please! I have to eat and run. If our meals at home are rushed rather than moments of true togetherness and sharing, how will we be able to share a Eucharist with what may seem a random coming together of loosely bound individuals? God, of course, understands why we do what we do. And even though some may regularly leave Mass early while they would never leave a sporting event, movie, concert or television program before the ending without a very good reason, it is never our place to judge. However, God s people, gathered in prayer, need each other a great deal. As we celebrate Mass, let us remind ourselves that each and every one of us is an important part of a great mystery. Together, we form the living Body of Christ. We may not know the joys and sorrows of the person next to us in church, but at the sign of peace let us turn to one another, knowing that each of us is a part of a greater whole. Realizing that we are united with one another through Jesus, we may find it hard to tear ourselves away. Fr. Gary Ziuraitis, C.SS.R. 1989 Ligouri Publications The Prayer After Communion and the Concluding Rite (the Final Blessing and the Dismissal) need to be better valued and appreciated, so that all who have shared in the Eucharist may come to a deeper appreciation of the responsibility which is entrusted to them. Once the assembly disperses, Christ s disciples return to their everyday surroundings with the commitment to make their whole life a gift, a spiritual sacrifice pleasing to God. They feel indebted to their brothers and sisters because of what they have received in the celebration. Pope John Paul II The fact that all who share in the Eucharist are united as one Body in Christ means that we cannot communicate with the Lord if we do not communicate among ourselves. If we want to present ourselves to him, we also must go out to meet each other. The Eucharist is the Sacrament of Unity. Pope Benedict XVI The Eucharist does not just unite us to God as individuals who are isolated from one another. Rather, we are united to Christ together with all the other members of the Mystical Body. The celebration of the Eucharist should thus increase our love for one another, and remind us of our responsibilities toward one another. Furthermore, as members of the Mystical Body of Christ, we have a duty to represent Christ and to bring Christ to the world. U. S. Conference of Catholic Bishops