WELCOME TO OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION CHURCH Facility Reservations Calendar Please confirm events at www.olaparish.net. Sat, Feb 11 th Little Dribblers 8:00am, Parish Hall Curia Meeting 9:30am, St. Paul s Room Pinewood Derby 10:00am, St. John s Hall Sun, Feb 12 th Flame Meeting 10:00am, St. Paul s Room RCIA 11:00am, St. John s Hall Mon, Feb 13 th School Band 2:00pm, Parish Hall Boy Scouts Troop 328 Meeting 6:30pm, Parish Hall OLA Women s Book Club 6:30pm, St. Paul s Room Troop 328 Scout Meeting 6:45pm, Seton Hall Christian Meditation 7:30pm, School Library Tues, Feb 14 th Young Rembrandts Art Program 3:05pm, School Meeting Room KofC Business Meeting 6:00pm, St. John s Hall Baptismal Preparation 7:00pm, St. Anne s Room Wed, Feb 15 th Legion of Mary Meeting 8:45am, St. Anne s Room School Band 2:00pm, St. John s Hall Youth Choir Rehearsal 6:00pm, Church Music Ministry Rehearsal 7:00pm, Church Thu, Feb 16 th Pack 225 Meeting 6:15pm, Parish Hall Fri, Feb 17 th Sowing for Jesus 8:30am, St. Anne s Room OLA 8th Grade Crab Feed Set-Up 1:00pm, Parish Hall Sat, Feb 18 th Save-The-Date Mass Requests To request a Mass, please contact the Parish Office. Sat, Feb 11 th 5:00pm Benito Aragon Reyes Family Lucia Aragon Reyes Family Sun, Feb 12 th 8:00am Art Foster Jerry & Marylee Johnson Helen De Angelo Bob & Joan Adams 9:30am Mario Affinito Nancy Affinito Kristine Perscheid Paula Wiesnen 11:00am Dale Fuller Portillo Family Aliska Gaudin Inez Adams Family 7:30pm OLA Parishioners Fr. Eduino Ruth Wiseburger Borg Family Mon, Feb 13 th 8:00am Holy Souls Tues, Feb 14 th 8:00am Fred & Rita Shratt Tinley Family Philip & Elizabeth Tinley Tinley Family Wed, Feb 15 th 8:00am Charles George Corenevsky Inez Corenevsky Thur, Feb 16 th 8:00am Holy Souls Fri, Feb 17 th 8:00am Holy Souls Sat, Feb 18 th 5:00pm Lizz Baca Frank Reyes Baca Family Reyes Family Feb. 26 th at Noon, All Ministry Representative Mtg. Feb. 26 th at 9:30am Mass will be Scout Sunday April 28 th - School Annual Golf Tournament May 5 th & 6th - Annual Country Fair Hearing Assist Devices Available Please see our ushers to get a hearing assist device. A valid CDL is required as a deposit.
REFLECTIONS & JOYFUL OPPORTUNITIES God s Laws are Life Giving The readings for today reminds us that God s laws are loving instructions that call on us to relate to God and to one another in love. His commandments call on us to trust and love Him and to forgive and respect one another, to see our brothers and sisters as created in the image of God. St. Paul reminds us that we are guided by the Spirit of God, Who fills us with His love, conforms us to the image of Christ, and reveals God s ways to us. He has revealed to us that we cannot even imagine what God has prepared for those who love Him. Let us listen to the Word of God to live a joyous life. ~ Fr. Eduino How God s Law Enriches Our Life Today s First Reading from Sirach, reminds us that in life we all have a choice: between good and evil, i.e., life and death. When we turn from God and sin, we choose death, that of our soul or some other kind of death. When we sin we say no to life with God, the only Real existence. The Responsorial, from Psalm 119, underscores the importance of internalizing God s law in our hearts. The Jewish people had received God s law by Divine intervention; other nations did not know how to please God. So the Israelites viewed God s law as a gift, in which they found life and hope. The Psalmist recognizes that we cannot go beyond mere observation of the law without God s grace, so he asks for the grace to internalize God s law. May we have the grace to see God s law as a gift and interiorize it. In the Second Reading, St Paul instructs us to embrace not worldly wisdom, but God s wisdom, i.e., the wisdom of the cross. For we are called to observe Gospel values and in so doing, serve others with the gifts God has given us. In today s Gospel, Jesus enlightens us as to the spiritual intent behind the commandments and explains the real meaning of God s law. He challenges/exhorts us to look inside ourselves, to interiorize the law; not only are we asked to not commit murder, but further, to not even think unkind or mean thoughts of others. Our Lord also places great importance on reconciliation with others, beginning with those closest to us, in order to genuinely worship Him. Similarly, Jesus extends the prescriptions of adultery, to go beyond asking how far can we go before it s a sin, to asking how can we protect the sanctity of marriage and have a chaste disposition. To emphasize the importance of self-mastery Jesus uses exaggeration: cutting off limbs, a Semitic way of speaking. Moses received the Law indirectly, from an angel. We have received the New Law directly from God, in the Person of Jesus. May our efforts to live His law more deeply, in sincerity and truth, bring us closer to Him and enrich our lives. ~Dean Marshal, OLA Seminarian PERT Club The PERT Club will meet on Tuesday, February 21 st, at 11:00am, in St. John s Hall. (We ask that the Kitchen Crew please arrive by 9:30). There will be a short meeting, Lotto, door prizes and a special guest speaker, Seminarian Dean Marshall, who will relate his life and twisting journey to the seminary. The potluck luncheon with your special mouthwatering dishes will follow at Noon. Bring your own utensils, wine glass, and coffee cup, along with some Valentine decorations for your table. Nonperishable food for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Locker is also requested. 10 games of BINGO, with cash prizes, will begin when the Kitchen Crew is done. Please call Tom at 487-9994, or George at 483-7194 if you have any questions. A representative from every ministry is invited to an All Ministry Meeting on February 26 th following the 11:00am Mass in St. John s Hall. Men s Weekend Retreat You are invited to experience rest and renewal as you grow closer to God through liturgy and prayer, silence and solitude, conversation and contemplation, sacrament and song. Join us this year on the weekend of March 3-5, at the Christ the King Retreat Center in Citrus Heights. For reservations and more information call George at 483-7194, or the Retreat Center at 725-4720. View the Center at: www.passionist.org/christtheking. Random Acts of Kindness Take time to do random acts of kindness. Spread God s unconditional love with (a smile, a thank you, helping hand).
YOUTH Our Lady of the Assumption School and Preschool 2016-2017 Please contact Jane Ricci at 481-5115 or development@olaparish.net for additional information or to schedule a personal visit. Application submissions are due by 3:30pm on February 17, 2017. Please attach the most recent report card and test scores for students entering 1 st - 8 th grades. 5 Th Annual OLA Crab Feed The OLA 8 th Grade Class of 2017 is hosting the 5 th Annual Crab Feed Fundraiser on Saturday February 25th. Proceeds from this year s event will help subsidize the costs of the 8 th Grade field trip to Washington DC. The Crab Feed has sold out the last four years so please don t delay purchasing a ticket if you are interested in attending. Tickets are $55/each and include sushi appetizer, salad, antipasto, pasta and crab. Beer and wine are available for purchase and there are great items available at the silent auction, raffle and dessert auction. Tickets are available for purchase in the school office or via email at olacrabfeed@olaparish.net. Thank you very much for your support! Look Up In The Sky...It s a Floating Rosary! Our 8 th graders with the direction of Mrs. McWilliams and Mrs. Stromayer created a rosary. This rosary was made with helium balloons. During Catholic Schools week the entire school said the rosary for our community and then released the rosary to soar over it. This was a truly precious visual for the children and adults. You can see a clip of the event at www.olaparishschool.com. In addition, on Vocations Day during Catholic Schools week our school children were joined by Fr. Eduino Silveira, Deacon Michael Tateishi, Sister Mary Carton, and our Seminarian, Dean Marshall and had the opportunity to hear the stories of their calling and ask them questions. The students, faculty, and staff appreciated these dedicated individuals sharing their time with us. We were very happy to see so many parishioners visiting our classrooms during our Open House following the 9:30am Catholic Schools Week kick off Mass! If you would like a personal tour of our school, please contact Jane at 481-5115 or development@olaparish.net. Scout Sunday Celebration on Feb. 26th at 9:30am Mass Join OLA s Boy Scouts and Scouting families for a celebration of scouting at the 9:30 am Mass on Sunday, February 26th. Scouts will serve as greeters and bring up the gifts. They will also serve refreshments after mass. OLA Youth Group Events Soap for Souls - OLA youth group is sponsoring a toiletry drive year round for St. Vincent de Paul starting September 13th. You ever wonder what to do with all your hotel shampoos and soaps? Donate to us! We are in need of any and all travel soaps, shampoos, conditioners, lotions, etc. Baskets will be in the back of the church labeled Soap for Souls. We appreciate your generosity. Used Book Sale - The Youth Group will be holding a used book sale the weekend of March 11 th and 12 th in St. John s Hall. We are gratefully accepting donations of gently used books, games, puzzles, DVDs, and CDs from now until the sale. Please do not include encyclopedias, reference books, textbooks or magazines. Donations can be brought to the Parish Office during regular business hours or you can call 488-4626 to arrange for a pick up. Please contact Johann at 486-4626 or youth@olaparish.net. Dinner - Every 3 rd Sunday of the month, come and break bread in the youth room. Then attend Mass together and experience our faith through prayers and worship. There will be a light dinner in the youth room from 6:30pm to 7:15pm followed by attendance at the 7:30pm Mass. Help to participate in the Mass by greeting, ushering, bringing up the gifts, and reading. This evening is for youth in grades 7 th 12 th. RSVP is not required. If you have any questions, please contact Youth Minister, Johann Miller at 486-4626 or youth@olaparish.net.
OPPORTUNITIES TO LIVE YOUR FAITH Vocations Cross Prayer Campaign OLA has a Vocations Cross Prayer Campaign. Each week, a family will take home the Vocations Cross. During their week, they commit to praying for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, as well as for our priests, seminarians, and religious in the Diocese of Sacramento. The cross will then be returned to the parish the following Friday, and presented to a new family at the Mass they normally attend. If you are interested in participating, please contact Dean Marshall at 481-5115 or at: seminarian@olaparish.net. OLA Women s Christ the King Retreat Sign up now for the OLA Women s Retreat (Feb. 24 th - 26 th ). For information, contact Patty at 944-2233. Next Women s Book Club Meeting: March 13th The OLA Women's Book Club meets monthly, usually the second Monday of each month, depending on room availability. The book club will next meet on March 13, 2017, in St. John's Hall at 6:30pm to discuss the selected book, "Woman in Cabin 10". Join us for a lively discussion. All are welcome. For more information regarding the book club, contact Mary Anne Campos at campos@sbcglobal.net. Thank you. Confirmation Candidates Invited to Fired Up 2017 Conference March 4 th & 5th FIRED UP, the eighth annual conference for confirmation candidates from throughout the Diocese of Sacramento, will take place twice, on Saturday, March 4 th and Sunday, March 5 th each day at Christian Brothers High School. Registration is through the diocesan website. The purpose of the confirmation conference is to gather all those who are receiving confirmation in a given year for a day that reminds them that they have been called by their baptism to live as disciples of Christ, affirms their decision to prepare for the sacrament, empowers and strengthens them for this process, and challenges them to make their Catholic faith come alive in their everyday lives. The day also serves a function similar to the Rite of Election in the RCIA, where all the candidates gather with their diocesan bishop to commit to a final stage of preparation for confirmation. The day will feature keynote speakers APeX ministries, breakout sessions, games and confirmation-related activities. The day will culminate with Mass with Bishop Jaime Soto, in which the candidates will all renew their baptismal promises, receive a blessing and commit to the final phase of their confirmation preparation. Ash Wednesday Day of Prayer Ash Wednesday is a privileged time of interior pilgrimage towards God who is the fount of love and mercy, a pilgrimage in which He himself accompanies us and sustains us on our way towards the intense joy of Easter. This day marks the beginning of the Church s observance of the Lenten season - six weeks that are set apart for the purpose of drawing closer to God and seeking him with greater intensity. Come join us to engaging in prayer and reflection to become more finely attuned to our longing for God so we can seek him with all our hearts. Begin our Lenten journey boy saying something honest to God and reflecting on what you might give up or rearrange in order to create more space and passion for this most important relationship. Fr. Tom Bonacci, C.P. and Fr. Giltus Mathias, C. P. will present this retreat on March 1 st from 9:30am - 2:00pm at Christ the King Passionist Retreat Center. The Sacrament of Penance will follow the Liturgy. The requested fee is $40.00 and will include lunch. Registration is required by calling 725-4720 ext. 305 or online at: ChristTheKingRetreatCenter.org. Please take a moment to show your appreciation to our volunteers who generously take time out of their busy lives to train and prepare to be our Lectors, EMs, Ushers & Altar Servers.
OLA PARISH MINISTRIES Please contact our parish office at 481-5115 or parish@olaparish.net for more information on the following ministries. Training is provided for all service ministries. All Saints Social Club is a group who improve the spiritual, educational, and social welfare of its members. Altar Servers light candles, hold the books, and handle the vessels, etc. so that the celebrant can focus on leading the assembly in prayer. Servers Girls and boys, 5th grade and older, are invited to participate. Bereavement Committee Members provide caring support while assisting with funeral planning. Building and Grounds coordinates the regular maintenance and improvement of the buildings and grounds. Catholic Daughters of America strive to be helping hands where there is pain, poverty, sorrow or sickness. Christian Meditation Group meets once a week in prayerful of silence called Christian Meditation in which we find God who dwells in our hearts and in doing so finds ourselves.. Eucharistic Homebound Ministers bring homebound parishioners Eucharist to their homes or care facilities. Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion assist in the distribution of Holy Communion. Faith Formation for Children volunteers teach the Catholic Faith to our parish children once a week. Family Promise Ministry provides fellowship and healthy meals to homeless families with children. Permanent housing is the ultimate goal, along with developing the self-sufficiency needed to sustain them. The Parish Finance Council advises the Pastor in matters pertaining to the financial affairs of the parish. Habitat for Humanity volunteers provide time and talent to build homes for families in need. The Knights of Columbus is a Catholic Family Fraternal Service Organization, which assists the Church and communities in the Arden Carmichael areas. Lectors are lay ministers who read from the Lectionary at Mass or other liturgical celebrations. The Legion of Mary is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. They bring Eucharist each week to homebound persons and care facilities in the area, as well as facilitating a Mass once a month at each of those facilities. The Liturgy Committee under the direction of the Pastor, sets goals, direction and principles for the liturgical life of the parish, assesses the needs of the worshipping assembly, trains competent liturgical ministers, and implements directives from the universal Church and the diocesan church. The Environment Committee liturgically adorns the church. Greeters receive the community and welcome them to our Faith Family. Ushers help worshipers find seats, take up the collection, coordinate the presentation of the gifts, assist persons who need hearing assist devices and give visitors necessary information. Martha & Mary Gathering is open to all parish ladies. They meet for fellowship, spiritual growth, and to assist with parishioner funeral receptions. Ministry of Small Things volunteers help parishioners with various one-time tasks according to their abilities. Music Ministers offer their gifts by singing or playing an instrument in our adult and youth choirs. Offertory Counters are volunteer teams who count the offertory collections. The Pastoral Council is a pastoral consultative body which strives to discern the movement of the Holy Spirit among God s people in the parish. It gives its help to the Pastor in fostering pastoral activity. P.E.R.T. (People Enjoying Retirement Together) promotes the spirit of friendship while providing opportunities for programs and activities to enhance the temporal and spiritual life of their later years. Respect Life Committee, through prayer and events, promotes life from conception to natural death. Social Committee engages our parish community in a welcoming manner through the planning and execution of social events like our community dinners. Social Justice Ministry Committee will coordinate social justice activities for the parish. Sowing for Jesus is a group who craft and grow spiritually together once a week. St. Vincent de Paul Society (SVdP) OLA Conference is a group of Catholic lay persons who respond to the needs of the poor living within the OLA parish boundaries. These needs are met through the twice-weekly on-site food locker and home visitation teams who provide temporary assistance with rent, utilities, clothing, etc. Vocations Committee prays and has events to inspire people to consider the religious life. Women s Book Club will meet to share the joy of reading. We look forward to growing in faith together!
STEWARDSHIP & ENLIGHTENMENT OPPORTUNITIES Thank you for your generosity on February 4th & 5th Weekend Offertory: $17,824.98 Electronic Giving: $ 1,585.00 Total: $19,409.98 Average Weekly Budget Amount: $13,846.15 For I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 5:20 The scribes and Pharisees lived according to the letter of the law and they used this to elevate themselves above the other people. Jesus is clear it s the love that you have in your heart that will get you to heaven. Simply following church rules out of obligation, not love, does not put you on the path to heaven. Attending Mass on Sunday and then gossiping about a fellow parishioner on the parking lot is an example of a modern day Pharisee. 2nd Collection for Family Promise THIS SATURDAY & SUNDAY! This weekend OLA will have a second collection for Family Promise, Sacramento. At any given time, there are over 3,000 homeless living on our streets and in our communities. The fastest growing segment of that population is families. 300 children are homeless every day in Sacramento County. In the 12 years of their existence, Family Promise has graduated 221 families (that s 385 adults and 435 children) from homelessness into their own homes. Some now own their homes. 16 have earned college degrees and 6 high school students are attending college with full scholarships. Please make checks payable to OLA and write Family Promise in the memo section. Thank you in advance for your generous contribution. Facilitate A Donation To OLA While Staying DRY! Shop from the comfort of your own home via smile.amazon.com/ch/45-3954215 and they will give a percentage of your dollars spent to OLA Church. We do not see who is shopping or what is purchased we just get a check. Thank you for considering this way to contribute to OLA while staying warm and dry! ParishPay Makes Giving Easy Our Lady of the Assumption Parish invites you to consider our electronic giving program, ParishPay, as a way to automate your regular weekly offerings. Electronic giving is convenient for you and provides much-needed consistency for our church. There is no cost for you to participate. If you are currently giving on a weekly basis, you will no longer need to write out 52 checks a year or prepare 52 envelopes. And when travel, illness or other circumstances prevent you from attending services, this program will allow your weekly offerings to continue on an uninterrupted basis. To sign up, simply go to olaparish.net and click on donation or you may call the Parish Office for assistance. Estate Planning A legacy gift to Our Lady of the Assumption is one of the most rewarding and far-reaching investments you can make. Our Lady of the Assumption takes the trust you place in us seriously and has used previous gifts to support the educational needs of our students, the liturgical and basic necessities of those helped by our charity partners locally, as well as investing in the future of Our Lady of the Assumption Parish. We are grateful to those who have included us in their plan for the distribution of their assets after death. We pray that you will keep Our Lady of the Assumption Parish and/or School in mind. We invite you to contact the Parish Office if you wish to learn more about how you can include us in your estate planning. Catholic Pilgrimage to Italy/ Rome/Monte Cassino/Naples/Pompeii/Amalfi Coast September 11-20, 2017, $3,799.00 per person including air from Sacramento, breakfast, and dinner daily. Mass daily at the Holy Shrines. For a Flyer or more detailed information please call Cathie or Michael Milano at 1-800- 773-2660. Palm Sunday Silent Retreat St. Clare s Retreat Center in Soquel, CA invites you to an oasis of peace, stillness and silence for all those seeking to nurture a life of prayer and response to Jesus invitation to Come apart for awhile to rest and pray. This Palm Sunday, April 7-9, 2017 silent retreat is for men and women together on mission with hope and joy led by Archbishop Emeritus of Portland, John G. Vlazny. For reservations call 831-423-8093 or www.stclaresretreatcenter.com.