March 24, 2019 Third day of Lent ST. GABRIEL THE ARCHANGEL CATHOLIC CHURCH Stewardship Reflection on Readings EX: 3:1-8A, 13.15; PS 103: 1-4, 6-8, 11; 1 COR 10:1-6, 10-12, LK 13:1-9 Today s Gospel passage reminds us that life is precious and the gift of time on this earth is just that a gift. None of us knows how much time will be granted to us, so it is urgent that we use this gift intentionally to glorify God and serve our neighbor. Jesus offers the parable of the fig tree to further illustrate this truth. The owner of the orchard came searching for fruit on a fig tree he had had planted in his orchard. Finding no fruit on the tree after three years, he told the gardener to cut it down. But the gardener intercedes and asks for one more year to cultivate and fertilize the tree in hopes it would bear fruit in the future. The fig tree was not dying; it simply wasn t doing much of anything at all. Can this be said of us and our lives as well? The season of Lent is a time to reflect carefully on the way we spend our time. Do we give first priority to God, tending to our spiritual growth and sacramental life with diligence? Do we give next priority to our loved ones, focusing intentionally on them each day without distractions from phones, screens or thoughts of work? If not, now is the moment to repent of our waste of time or of misplaced priorities on our use of time. God is merciful but just. Let s turn to Him and ask Him to make our lives fruitful while we still have time to do so. PARISH OFFICE 8755 Scarborough Drive Colorado Springs, CO 80920 www.saintgabriel.net Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 am-5:00 pm Phone: (719) 528-8407 Fax: (719) 598-1696 Email: office@saintgabriel.net PARISH CLERGY Pastor, Fr. Kirk Slattery frkslattery@saintgabriel.net Father Don Billiard, OFM dcbofm@gmail.com Deacon Mike McGrady mmcgrady@saintgabriel.net Deacon Dave Geislinger dgeislinger@diocs.org MASS SCHEDULE Weekend: Saturday 5:00 pm; day 8:30 am, 10:30 am, 12:30 pm (Spanish) & 4:30 pm Weekdays: Tuesday-Friday 12:15 pm SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION Tuesday-Friday: 11:50 am-12:10 pm, Saturday: 2:30-3:30 pm. First Friday: 10am to noon. Eucharistic Adoration: Wednesday 10 am to 7 pm.
DAILY MASS UPDATE Starting this week The Angelus will be prayed at daily Mass at 12:10pm. Although the Angelus has been traditionally said three times daily, at 6 am, noon and 6 pm, you can pray it at anytime! It is still accompanied by the ringing of a bell (the Angelus bell) in some places such as Vatican City and parts of Germany and Ireland. The Angelus reminds us of the Annunciation when the angel Gabriel appeared to Mary with great (if somewhat startling) news! The Angelus pays tribute to a crucial aspect of Mary s role in the Incarnation, when it quotes from Luke s Gospel be it done to me according to thy word (Lk 1:38). This wonderful event could not have happened without her consent, without what is known as her fiat. By saying yes to God in allowing herself to become His mother, she showed us the ultimate example of trust in our Creator! Download the Angelus app at https:// play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.angelus and get reminders to pray. EASTER FLOWERS With Easter fast approaching, your donations for flowers would be greatly appreciated. This will allow us to beautify the nave and narthex for our Easter celebration. We will have envelopes on a table in the narthex the weekends of March 30/31 and April 6/7. Please place the donation envelopes in the white mailbox outside the office. Thank you so much for your contributions! DAILY MASS FOR ANNUNCIATION On March 25th, there will be a Mass at 12:15 for the Annunciation of the Lord. There will also be Confessions at 11:50am. This is a Solemnity not a Holy Day of Obligation. The Annunciation of the Lord is when the angel Gabriel visits Blessed Virgin Mary to inform her that she was to be the Mother of the Savior. After giving her consent to God s word, Mary became the Mother of Jesus by the power of the Holy Spirit. HEALTH AND SAFETY TEAM DYK (Did You Know)? Every classroom and section of the four-plex have the room number affixed above the door frame and a framed Emergency Evacuation Plan near the door? This thumbnail photo is too small to read but indicates what to look for. Also, having a room number reduces confusion during an urgent situation or simply texting a family member as to where you are in the building. GABRIEL S GIFTS FOOD PANTRY COLLECTION IS MARCH 30 AND 31 Our monthly Gabriel s Gifts food pantry collection for Mercy s Gate is next weekend. Please pick up a bin after mass today and bring your donation when you come to mass next weekend. Requested food items include canned fruit, hot and cold cereal and boxed baking items. Non-food items include toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoo, conditioner and toilet paper. Speaking of bins Our bin supply has dwindled. Please check your storage areas at home for bins you might have forgotten to return with your donation. The Knights use the bins to make delivery at the food pantry faster and easier. Thank you. And thank you for supporting our community food pantry! SHROUD OF TURIN A series of monthly lectures on the Shroud of Turin will begin on Thursday evening, March 28th at 6:30 p.m. at St. Gabriel s. Hosted by Dr. and Mrs. John Jackson and their 30-year research colleague, Dr. Keith Propp, the schedule of lectures is as follows: Lecture 1: Introductory Overview of the Shroud and ACHS March 28 Lecture 2: STURP expedition history and science April 25 Lecture 3: Shroud 2000-year history with available documentation May 30 Lecture 4: Image formation and radiocarbon dating June 20 Lecture 5: Jewish background for understanding the Shroud July 18 Lecture 6: The Shroud and Holy Thursday August 29 Lecture 7: The Shroud and Good Friday/Easter day Sept. 26 All attendees are asked to register prior to March 28th by sending a brief e-mail to tscience@rmi.net with Seminar Registration in the subject line of the e-mail. The seminar is open not just to parishioners, but to everyone interested in attending; however, space is limited so please register as soon as possible. If you have any questions, please call 719-599-5755. St. Gabriel the Archangel 2 Colorado Springs, CO
THIS WEEKEND CALENDAR RCIC 9:45-11:15am. YSF 9:45-11:15am. RCIA 9:45-11:15am. Financial Peace 6pm. UPCOMING Mon, Mar 25 Annunciation of the Lord Mass at 12:15pm. Mon, Mar 25 Biblical School 6:30pm. Mon, Mar 25 Walk Toward Eternity Bible Study 7pm. Tues, Mar 26 SoulCore 9-10am. Tues, Mar 26 EPIC: A Journey through Church History Bible Study 9:30am. Wed, Mar 27 Eucharistic Adoration as scheduled. Pray the Rosary at 6:00pm. Evening Prayer and Benediction starts at 6:30pm. Wed, Mar 27 Children s Choir 5:15pm. Wed, Mar 27 Knights of Columbus Meeting 7pm. Thurs, Mar 28 Shroud of Turin Lecture 6:30pm. Fri, Mar 29 Stations of the Cross 6pm followed by Soup Supper provided by the 12:30pm Mass Parishioners., Mar 31 Knights of Columbus Free Breakfast after 8:30am Mass., Mar 31 day and Monday Grades 6-Confirmation Faith Formation Epic Meeting 2:30-4pm. SAVE THE DATE April 5th Stations of the Cross 6pm followed by Soup Supper provided by the Liturgy and Worship Music Ministry. June 24-28 Vacation Bible School. July 17-19 Mission Possible. July 21-26 Totus Tuus. BULLETIN DEADLINE The bulletin deadline for the March 31st bulletin is Monday, March 25th by 10am. Please send all announcements to office@saintgabriel.net. 2019 RETURNING GOD S GIFTS The parable in today s Gospel clearly warns that we, like the fig tree, will be judged by our fruit. While God mercifully provides us with time and opportunity, let us give witness to our faith with deeds of kindness and generosity. 2019 RETURNING GODS GIFTS UPDATE 2019 Parish Goal: $119,764 Total Pledged: $36,510 Total collected to date: $10,672 ST. GABRIEL S EVENTS CALENDAR Do you know that you can check the dates and times of St. Gabriel s events at the on-line Events Calendar on our website? Visit saintgabriel.net and click on Events Calendar on the horizontal menu just below the purple banner on the home page of the website. SECOND COLLECTION NEXT WEEKEND Next week, our parish will take up The Catholic Relief Services Collection. Funds from this collection provide food to the hungry, support displaced refugees, and bring Christ's love and mercy to all people here and abroad. Next week, please give generously to the collection, and help Jesus in disguise. Learn more about the collection at www.usccb.org/catholic-relief. BEHIND THE SOUND MIXER Interested in joining an awesome team of sound techs? Get involved with the audio & video team here at St. Gabriel. Those who serve play a vital part of making sure our priest, musicians and readings are heard. Scared of all the knobs and flashing lights, NO problem, we will train you! In a short period of time, you could be serving God s people during mass in the sound booth. Contact Marc Lanning via mlanning@saintgabriel.net or drop by the sound booth after mass for more information. St. Gabriel the Archangel 3 Colorado Springs, CO
St. Gabriel the Archangel 4 Colorado Springs, CO
LENTEN HAPPENINGS STATIONS OF THE CROSS Stations of the Cross are held each Friday of Lent, beginning at 6:00 pm. Afterwards, we share a meal: either a Knights of Columbus fish fry, or a simple soup supper. Volunteers are needed to bring a large crockpot of soup and bread for the March 9 soup supper. Please contact Kathy Thomas at kthomas@saintgabriel.net to volunteer. Soup can be brought to the church beginning at 5:00 pm that day. Mar 29 Stations of the Cross (bilingual) soup provided by 12:30pm Mass Parishioners. April 5-Stations of the Cross-soup provided by Liturgy and Worship Music Ministry. April 12-Stations of the cross-k of C fish fry April 19(Good Friday)-Stations of the Cross.-no meal LENTEN FISH FRY The Knights of Columbus will be hosting one more Lenten Fish Fry to be held on April 12 immediately following Stations of the Cross. The price for these dinners is $10.00 per adult, $5.00 per child 3-12 years of age, and children under 3 are free. Dinner includes fish, cole slaw, baked potato, salad, roll, dessert, and drink. There will also be grilled cheese sandwiches available. LENT CONFESSION SCHEDULE March 30 1:30-3:30pm April 6 1:30-3:30pm April 13 1:30-3:30pm April 20 No Confessions Confession is also available Tuesday-Friday from 11:50am-12:10pm. LENT BRINGS CHANGE The season of Lent brings the opportunity for change in our personal lives, in increased prayer, fasting and almsgiving. It also brings change to our environment and music during the Mass. Have you noticed these changes? * Our banners and clergy vestments are violet, the color of penitence. * We fast from the Gloria, and the acclamation Alleluia! * We sing a different Gospel Acclamation: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ, King of endless glory! * We fast from instrumental music, providing only enough accompaniment to support the singing. * This year, we will end our Mass departing in silence, to focus our thoughts on our Lenten practices. When we go without these sounds during Lent, their return at Christ s Resurrection brings us increased joy! Allow the change of sounds to help you center your prayer, and relish their return at Easter! St. Gabriel the Archangel 5 Colorado Springs, CO
CATHOLIC CHARITES ANNOUNCEMENTS Employment Childcare Specialists needed part-time to work in our English as a Second Language program. Call 719-866-6516 for more information, or go to www.ccharitiescc.org to fill out an application. Volunteer at Catholic Charities! Visit CCharitiesCC.org for opportunities and to register. Current Opportunities in Colorado Springs (719) 866-6286 Client Services - Clothing/Donation Sorters needed any weekday 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. with a flexible start and end time. -English as a Second Language Program seeks Teachers, Teacher Assistants, and Children's Activities Helpers, for the spring 2019 semester. -Family Connections at the Helen Hunt Campus is in need of a volunteer to help for a few hours each week with data entry. The Volunteer can help any day M-F between the hours of 8:30 am - 4:00 p.m. Contact D'Wanna Powell, dpowell@ccharitiescc.org, 719-309-2972 or Michelle Swanson, mswanson@ccharitiescc.org, 719-309-2970. -Family Connections Early Literacy Program Volunteers are needed to help sort and prepare donated books for children ages 0-5 at the Marian House. Books are given to children and families receiving services at Family Connections. Please contact Kathy Dobyns at 719-309-2968 or kdobyns@ccharitiescc.org. -Lord's Dinner Volunteers needed for the Catholic Charities resource table at the weekly day dinner for those experiencing homelessness. The dinner takes place at Sacred Heart from 5-7 p.m. Please click here to contact Doug Rouse if interested or call 719-866-6286. -Mail Volunteers - Volunteers needed Wednesdays and Fridays to sort, file and distribute mail to clients. The shift is 8am to 11am with the mail being handed out to clients from 9am to 10am. -Marian House Soup Kitchen - Volunteers needed on the loading dock to help unload grocery store donations and stow them. M-F, 9am to 1pm. Volunteers must be able to lift 20 to 50 pounds. St. Gabriel the Archangel 6 Colorado Springs, CO
THE ANNUNCIATION The feast of the Annunciation was first celebrated in the fourth or fifth century. Its central focus is the Incarnation: God has become one of us. From all eternity God had decided that the Second Person of the Blessed Trinity should become human. Now, as Luke 1:26-38 tells us, the decision is being realized. Because human beings have rejected God, Jesus will accept a life of suffering and an agonizing death: No one has greater love than this, to lay down one s life for one s friends (John 15:13). Mary has an important role to play in God s plan. From all eternity, God destined her to be the mother of Jesus and closely related to him in the creation and redemption of the world. Because Mary is God s instrument in the Incarnation, she has a role to play with Jesus in creation and redemption. It is a God-given role. It is God s grace from beginning to end. Mary becomes the eminent figure she is only by God s grace. She is the empty space where God could act. Everything she is she owes to the Trinity. Mary is the virgin-mother who fulfills Isaiah 7:14 in a way that Isaiah could not have imagined. She is united with her son in carrying out the will of God. Together with Jesus, the privileged and graced Mary is the link between heaven and earth. She is the human being who best, after Jesus, exemplifies the possibilities of human existence. She received into her lowliness the infinite love of God. She shows how an ordinary human being can reflect God in the ordinary circumstances of life. She exemplifies what the Church and every member of the Church is meant to become. She is the ultimate product of the creative and redemptive power of God. She manifests what the Incarnation is meant to accomplish for all of us. READINGS FOR THE WEEK OF MARCH 24 Monday: Is 7:10-14; 8:10/Ps 40:7-8, 8b-9, 10, 11 [8a, 9a]/Heb 10:4-10/Lk 1:26-38 Tuesday: Dn 3:25, 34-43/Ps 25:4-5ab, 6 and 7bc, 8-9 [6a]/Mt 18:21-35 Wednesday: Dt 4:1, 5-9/Ps 147:12-13, 15-16, 19-20 [12a]/Mt 5:17-19 Thursday: Jer 7:23-28/Ps 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9 [8]/ Lk 11:14-23 Friday: Hos 14:2-10/Ps 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17 [cf. 11 and 9a]/Mk 12:28-34 Saturday: Hos 6:1-6/Ps 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21ab [cf. Hos 6:6]/Lk 18:9-14 day: Jos 5:9a, 10-12/Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 [9a]/ 2 Cor 5:17-21/Lk 15:1-3, 11-32 Mar 25 Mar 26 Mar 27 Mar 28 Mar 29 Mar 30 Mar 31 PRAY FOR VOCATIONS Steve Prebeck, Candidate John Riley, Candidate Paul Ruff, Candidate Rob Rysavy II, Candidate Bob Seydel, Candidate Fr. Don Billiard,OFM Mark Thuli, Candidate TITHING RECIPIENT Today s Tithe is for Marian House Life Support. Life Support Service provides education / support, information and referrals to low-income pregnant women and families with young children. Please pray for the people supported by this organization. ALTAR FLOWERS There will be no Altar Flowers during the Lenten Season. PRAYER CHAIN If you have a request for needed prayers, strength, hope, courage or thanksgiving for yourself, family or friends, please email ncbelanger54@gmail.com. BAPTISMS We welcome into our Faith Community, the newest members of God s Family: Andrew Kolbe Durow baptized March 23. Sat Mar 23 5:00pm for: Eugenia Stagl (+) Mar 24 8:30am for: Fr. Kirk s Intentions Mar 24 10:30am Pro Populo Mar 24 12:30pm for: Beatrice Perez (+) Mar 24 4:30pm for: Clinton Guischard (+) Mon Mar 25 12:15pm for: Hilda Balagtas (+) Tues Mar 26 12:15pm for: Dee Tope (SI Birthday) Wed Mar 27 12:15pm for: Patrick Moore (+) Thur Mar 28 12:15pm for: Bill & Dolores Zelle (+) Fri Mar 29 12:15pm for: Dorotea Fermin Garcia Eugenio (+) Sat Mar 30 5:00pm Pro Populo Mar 31 8:30am for: Margie Juarez (+) Mar 31 10:30am for: Sean Moller (+) Mar 31 12:30pm for: Raul Antonio Unson (+) Mar 31 4:30pm for: Bob Concannon (+) St. Gabriel the Archangel 7 Colorado Springs, CO