THIRD SUNDAY OF EASTER

Today’s gospel passage beautifully demonstrates both the reality and the challenge of resurrection. Christ appears to his friends and feeds them, then gives Peter the opportunity to profess his love three times, and so repent of his threefold denial. In his words to Peter, however, Jesus makes clear the cost of loving him: “when you grow old… someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” The resurrection we “look forward” to comes only through the cross, a reality made concrete in the persecutions of the disciples in the first reading. We do not face the challenge of Easter faith unaided, however. First among God’s gifts is the Eucharist: The meal Christ provides for his disciples in the gospel is clearly Eucharistic. Even the suffering recounted in the first reading brings joy. The presence of the Risen One, whether in simple gifts or faithful testimony, upholds those who believe.


Fourth Sunday of Easter
Reading I: Acts 13:14, 43-52, 40-41; Reading II:
Revelation 7:9, 14-17; Gospel: John 10:27-30
The focus of this Sunday’s Gospel is on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. The short talk stresses the unbreakable relationship between Jesus and his sheep. Like all well-tended sheep, they respond only to their shepherd’s voice. He knows and loves them, and they respond by following him. He gives them a share in the very life of God, a promise that will never stop. God has given them to Jesus, and there is no snatching them out of God’s hand. The statements of ownership are strong proofs that the sheep cannot be taken away from Jesus or God. Right now, where do you experience belonging and having a place? Where do you experience not really belonging? Share one of your stronger experiences of conflict in your life. How was it resolved? “Birds of a feather flock together.” Relate an experience when you realized that you truly belonged to a group. Share your feelings about that experience. Speak of an experience in your life when your sense of belonging was so real that you knew you could count on others to be responsible for you.


STEWARDSHIP: FAITH IN ACTION
Sunday April 18 $11,476.00
Thank you for your continuing generosity!
Don’t forget to use your contribution envelopes.


PARISH CALENDAR
April 21 Taize Prayer Around the Cross, 6:30 PM
April 27 Pastoral Council Meeting
April 28 Taize Prayer Around the Cross, 6:30 PM
May 1 First Communion Practice, 9:00 AM
May 2 First Communion at the 10:30 AM Mass
May 4 Pastoral Council Discernment


ROSARY FOR PEACE
Saturday mornings after the 7:30 AM Mass.


TOGETHER IN MISSION ANNUAL APPEAL
Many thanks to all who have so generously responded to the Together in Mission Annual Appeal with a pledge or donation. To date, we have collected approximately $32,000 toward our goal of $60,807. If you have not already made a pledge or given a donation, we invite you to consider doing so. Funds collected in the Together In Mission campaign are used strictly to aid poor parishes and schools that are simply unable to support themselves. They truly depend on our help. For your convenience, Together In Mission envelopes are in the pews and at the back of the church. Thank you for considering this most worthy cause.


YOUTH MINISTRY
Senior High Youth Ministry:
Meets Tuesday evenings from 7:15 – 9:00 PM in the St. Raphael Parish Center. All high school age youth are welcome.

Junior High “Tobiah Club” Youth Ministry:
Our next meeting is Thursday, May 6th from 7:00-8:45 PM in the St. Raphael Parish Center.


NEW PARISH BULLETIN COUNTDOWN
We look forward to bringing you even deeper into the life of your parish and community and further along in your journey of faith through our new and improved bulletin ministry coming next weekend!


DEAR PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS

As we continue our fifty-day celebration of Easter, we would like to acknowledge and thank all of the people who work so hard to make Holy Week and the whole fifty days of Easter the high point of our liturgical year. First and foremost, we thank our Christian Initiation team, Val Roses, Carol Parkus, Joe Sandall and Art Melton, who so faithfully walk the journey of conversion with catechumens and candidates. Our special thanks to Carol Parkus and her dedicated environment committees. As a team, they spend countless hours planning, executing and maintaining the church environment during this most holy season. In addition, we thank all of you who so kindly donated lilies and ferns in honor of your loved ones. Many thanks to Keith Paulson-Thorp and all of the music ministers who provide us with the very beautiful and inspiring music. Thanks also to Bob and Claudia Chyla and their wonderful altar servers who carry out their ministry with such grace. We are most grateful to all of our ushers who welcome and assist everyone so cordially; and to our lectors and eucharistic ministers who are truly word and sacrament for us. Thanks too to Andrew Gafvert, our pastoral assistant, Michael Petrini, office assistant, and Elias Dorado, our ever-faithful custodian. Finally, we can hardly thank enough our sacristan, Joan Curran and her assistant, Corado Reginatto for the numerous hours they put in. Our liturgies are glorious because of all of you! Let us continue to celebrate with gusto these great fifty days of rejoicing! Easter blessings!

Love,
Fr. Richard and Pat

HELP SEND KIDS TO SUMMER CAMP
Only with the help and support of generous parishioners like you, is the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul of Santa Barbara able to provide scholarships to send local children to summer camp at Lake Cachuma. For more information on helping to make scholarships available for local children in need, please contact the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul at (805) 687-7547.


VOLUNTEER AT THE OLD MISSION MUSEUM
The Old Mission Santa Barbara Museum Docents are sponsoring a Volunteer Recruitment Coffee on Wednesday, April 28th at 10:00 AM in the Friar’s Lounge at the Mission, a National Historic Landmark. All individuals interested in the history of California and the Missions are invited. Volunteer activities include being a museum docent, working on exhibits caring for museum artifacts, working on public relations and working on the Huerta, the new Mission era garden. RSVP 687-6582 or email docentssbm@hotmail.com.


THANKS TO OUR EASTER HELPERS

Ray Cunningham Mary Heron Br. Joachim
Sue Bibee Stu Carroll Day Day Chenoweth
Tom Connors Norma Davenport Patricia Downey
Mary Ann Gherini Lisa Lavins Owen Guitteau
Ellie Gymnaites Kathy & Scott Jorgensen
Jeanette Nadeau Santy Kazali Marjorie Lilly
John and Gloria McManus Kristen Thorensen
Corado Reginatto Anthony and Yani Osehan
Fritz and Joyce Patterson Mira Vorkapich
Trudy Somerville Mike Petrini Jessy Osehan
Joe Sandall Linda Trujillo Jerry and Ginny Petrini

Special thanks to all those volunteers who helped create our Triduum celebrations. We spotted familiar faces all about: inside the main church, climbing around the lawn cross, balancing on the bell towers, poking through the windows above the portico, installing flags up the drive, and in the Blessed Sacrament and Serra Chapels. Palms were collected and blessed, paths were lit, Stations of the Cross were installed, and beautiful blooming plants will continue to surround us throughout the Easter season! Thanks to all!


BECOME A LITURGICAL MINISTER
We are always in need of liturgical ministers. Please consider serving your parish in one of the following ministries:

USHERS work in concert with the sacristans to prepare before and after the Mass. In addition, they welcome and assist people as needed, and they take up the collection during the Mass.

EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS serve the Body and Blood of Christ and purify the vessels after Communion.

LECTORS proclaim the Word of God to the gathered assembly, and read the Prayer of the Faithful.

The primary work of all liturgical ministers is to be role modes for the assembly by fully, actively and consciously participating in the Mass. Call the Parish Office for more information.


HOW DOES ONE BECOME A CATHOLIC?
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is a community-based process for welcoming new members into the Roman Catholic Church that is guided by the Gospel and the lived example of the community. If you are interested in looking into the Catholic faith, please call the Parish Office, 682-4151.


THE LIFE BEYOND THE VEIL OF DEATH

On Saturday, May 1st from 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM in the Holy Cross Church (1740 Cliff Drive) Parish Hall, Dominic Berardino will be leading a workshop toward the following concerns: What happens when we die? Can the dead communicate with the living? Examining near-death experiences. On-site registration of $10.00 per person includes study materials and a light lunch. For more information, call Larry at 966-7804


CARDINAL MCINTYRE FUND FOR CHARITY
Second collection next weekend, 100% going directly towards emergency needs of those who suffer daily.

SECOND SUNDAY OF EASTER

Did you notice? Today is called the “Second Sunday of Easter,” not the “First Sunday after Easter.” Our celebration of Easter is not over. These Sundays of Easter continue to present the mystery of Jesus Christ’s victory. The readings begin with the “signs and wonders” abounding in those earliest days. Sick people lay in the street, hoping that at least Peter’s “shadow might fall on one or another of them.” Then, in a powerful passage from the Book of Revelation, the visionary falls down “as though dead” upon seeing the victorious Christ. But Christ extends a gentle touch: “Do not be afraid … once I was dead, but now I am alive forever.”

In the Gospel, that same Christ appears and breathes on the disciples, and gently leads Thomas to believe. This Christ—more powerful than any evil force, victorious over death itself—touches us and whispers, “Do not be afraid.”
© Copyright, J.S. Paluch Co.

Third Sunday of Easter
Reading I: Acts 5:27-32, 40-41; Reading II:
Revelation 5:11-14; Gospel: John 21:1-19
The scene in today’s Gospel appears as a commentary upon a statement made by Jesus: “Apart from me you can do nothing.” Apart from him their efforts have been fruitless, but now that they are with him, anything is possible. Peter’s leadership role is expressed in pastoral imagery. With leadership comes responsibility and a call to imitate the selfless love of Christ. It is summed up in the statement, “Follow me.” The risen Lord Jesus invites him not only to death but to resurrection. Jesus passed from this world to the Father through death. Those who profess to follow the Lord must take the same route. That is why Jesus is truly “the way.” Relate an experience when someone did not give up on you in spite of your past failures. Describe a time when you were affirmed as a person and given a job to finish. What does it mean for you when Jesus says to you, “Follow me”?

STEWARDSHIP: FAITH IN ACTION
Easter Sunday $19,909.00
Thank you for your continuing generosity!
Don’t forget to use your contribution envelopes.

PARISH CALENDAR
April 18 Welcoming New Parishioners Reception
in Sacred Garden follows 9:00 AM Mass
April 21 Taize Prayer Around the Cross
April 24-25 Pastoral Council Discernment
April 27 Pastoral Council Meeting
May 1 First Communion Practice, 9:00 AM
May 2 First Communion at the 10:30 AM Mass

ROSARY FOR PEACE

Saturday mornings after the 7:30 AM Mass.

ALWAYS OUR CHILDREN!
The Catholic Support Group for Parents of gay and lesbian Catholics for the Santa Barbara and Ventura area will now meet on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The next meeting is Tuesday, April 27th at 7:30 PM in Santa Barbara. A safe and comfortable environment is offered where you can share your feelings, fears and ask questions. These meetings are informal and confidential. For more information or directions, please call Kathie and Joe at (805) 687-4338. See the website at http://www.archdiocesemlgc.com.

TOGETHER IN MISSION ANNUAL APPEAL
Many thanks to all who have so generously responded to the Together in Mission Annual Appeal with a pledge or donation. To date, we have collected approximately $32,000 toward our goal of $60,807. If you have not already made a pledge or given a donation, we invite you to consider doing so. Funds collected in the Together In Mission campaign are used strictly to aid poor parishes and schools that are simply unable to support themselves. They truly depend on our help. For your convenience, Together In Mission envelopes are in the pews and at the back of the church. Thank you for considering this most worthy cause.

YOUTH MINISTRY
Senior High Youth Ministry:
Meets Tuesday evenings from 7:15 – 9:00 PM in the St. Raphael Parish Center. All high school age youth are welcome.

Junior High “Tobiah Club” Youth Ministry:
Our next meeting is Thursday, May 6th from 7:00-8:45 PM in the St. Raphael Parish Center.

NEW PARISH BULLETIN COUNTDOWN
In just two weeks, the St. Barbara Parish bulletin you are reading will be increasing from 4 to 8 pages, giving us space for 5 whole pages of text! We look forward to bringing you even deeper into the life of your parish and community and further along in your journey of faith through our new and improved bulletin ministry.

DISCERNMENT FOR PASTORAL COUNCIL
Soon all registered parishioners will be invited to recommend parishioners to serve as Pastoral Council members. According to the Archdiocesan guideline book, Communion and Consultation: Pastoral Council Guidelines, the specific task of the Pastoral Council is pastoral planning. The Council engages in a three-pronged process of study, reflection, and recommendation. Meetings are held monthly, on the last Tuesday of each month, and council members serve a three year term. The Pastoral Council candidate should be:
-visionary, creative and imaginative
-a facilitator of change and growth
-sensitive to tradition
-team oriented
-collaborative
-willing to commit time and energy outside
of Pastoral Council meetings
Each person nominated will be notified by Fr. Richard and invited to a meeting on Tuesday, May 4th, at 7:00 PM at which the vision and mission of the Council will be presented. Those who are willing to serve will be asked to state orally and in writing why they want to serve and the skills they would bring to the Council ministry. A committee of outgoing council members together with Fr. Richard will discern, by means of prayer and discussion, four new members for the Pastoral Council from those candidates.
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.”

WELCOMING NEW PARISHIONERS
Please join in welcoming new parishioners to St. Barbara Parish at a special reception in the Sacred Gardens after the 9:00 AM Mass today. If you are new to the parish, don’t miss this special reception for you! All other parishioners, please come mingle and welcome these wonderful folks to your parish community!

BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY NEWS
For some time, we have been looking into establishing a bereavement ministry in partial fulfillment of our stated parish objective to establish a “Service in Time of Need” ministry. Training sessions for our newest parish ministry will be held in the Fall. Details to come.

TEA BY THE SEA
Villa Majella, a residence for pregnant, single women, will be holding its Tea by the Sea fundraiser on Saturday, May 1st, from 1:00-4:00 PM in a lovely garden by the Sea, Serena Cove (3393 Padaro Ln., Carpinteria). Adults $20.00, Children (5-12) $7.50. For reservations, please call Elizabeth at 682-2266. The reservation deadline is April 24th.

HELP SEND KIDS TO SUMMER CAMP
Only with the help and support of generous parishioners like you, is the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul of Santa Barbara able to provide scholarships to send local children to summer camp at Lake Cachuma. For more information on helping to make scholarships available for local children in need, please contact the Society of Saint Vincent De Paul at (805) 687-7547.

NETWORK ACTION ALERT
St. Barbara Parish is a member of Network, a National Catholic Social Justice Lobby. This month NETWORK is asking local members to contact Senator
Barbara Boxer, Senator Diane Feinstein and Representative Lois Capps, via the Capitol Switchboard (202-224-3121), and urge them to cosponsor the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2003 (S 20 in the Senate and HR 965 in the House), which would raise the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.65 in two installments. For over 7 years, the minimum wage has not been raised. It is impossible for a minimum wage worker to rent an apartment at market value in any of the 50 states. To learn about NETWORK's other legislative priorities, go to the parish website and click on "Justice and Peace Committee".

VOLUNTEER AT THE OLD MISSION MUSEUM
The Old Mission Santa Barbara Museum Docents are sponsoring a Volunteer Recruitment Coffee on Wednesday, April 28th at 10:00 AM in the Friar’s Lounge at the Mission, a National Historic Landmark. All individuals interested in the history of California and the Missions are invited. Volunteer activities include being a museum docent, working on exhibits caring for museum artifacts, working on public relations and working on the Huerta, the new Mission era garden. RSVP 687-6582 or email docentssbm@hotmail.com.

A MESSAGE OF HOPE FOR PEACE IN ISRAEL
Father Elias Chacour, founder and president of Mar Elias Educational Institutions (MEEI), a world renowned peacemaker and founder of Israel’s first Christian-Arab-Israeli university will be speaking on Wednesday, April 21st at First Presbyterian Church (21 E. Constance Ave., Santa Barbara) at 7:30 PM. Fr. Chacour brings a message of hope that so many of us are anxious to hear. While there will be no admission charge, an offering for Fr. Chacour and MEEI will be received. Seating and parking are limited, arrive early.

BISHOP HIGH SCHOOL PLACEMENT TESTING
A placement test is scheduled for incoming freshman who wish to apply for admission from 3:15-5:30 PM on April 22nd at Bishop High School (4000 La Colina Rd.) The test fee is $40.00. For More information, call Debbie Herrera, Director of Admissions at 967-1266 x118.

PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION
The details of the Passion narrative give us a glimpse of humanity at its best, in the form of Jesus choosing to be obedient to his destiny, and humanity at its worst, in the form of Judas, Peter, the religious leaders, and the crowd. It is jarring to look at these characters and see how easy it seemed to be for them to sacrifice their integrity. It is sobering to recognize ourselves in their actions. Judas is not the only one who ever betrayed a friend, nor is Peter alone in protecting himself at the expense of another. Our Church today is still reeling from the scandalous actions of some of our religious leaders. And, haven’t we all had experience with the force of the crowd mentality? It is easy to get caught up in the crowd and end up loosing our own sense of justice. Or, at times we can be so frightened and intimidated by the crowd that we fail to stand by those who become its victims. The point is, all of us bear culpability in some way. During this Holy Week, therefore, in genuine humility, let us be open to true conversion and transformation. Let us recognize in the characters of the story, our own strengths to be built upon and our weaknesses to be overcome. Let us enter fully into the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ!


EASTER SUNDAY
Reading I: Acts 10:34, 37-43; Reading II:
Colossians 3:1-4; Gospel: John 20:1-9
All the Gospels agree that women were the first to come to the tomb. Mary Magdalene is always mentioned among them. The scene symbolizes a new creation brought about by the Resurrection of the Light of the world. The darkness suggests the darkness that covered the abyss before light first appeared. When Mary Magdalene sees the stone removed from the entrance, she runs to the disciples with the news that “the Lord has been taken from the tomb!” She saw him die a few days ago, and that prevents her from drawing any other conclusion. The two disciples run side by side to the tomb. Peter sees the burial cloth and the cloth that covered Jesus’ head, but he does not know how to interpret what he sees. The other disciple, the one Jesus loved and the source of this account, is the first to understand the significance of the empty tomb: “The Lord has risen.” For John, all those who came to believe would be loved by Jesus and would love in return. Name a time in your life when something good came out of a seemingly hopeless situation. Relate an experience from your life when inner peace came from facing a painful situation. Who are you more like: Mary Magdalene, Peter or the Beloved Disciple? Why?


STEWARDSHIP: FAITH IN ACTION
March 28th $10,370.00
Thank you for your continuing generosity!
Don’t forget to use your contribution envelopes.

ROSARY FOR PEACE
Saturday mornings after the 7:30 AM Mass.


TOGETHER IN MISSION ANNUAL APPEAL
Many thanks to all who have so generously responded to the Together in Mission Annual Appeal with a pledge or donation. To date, we have collected $30,349 toward our goal of $60,807. If you have not already made a pledge or given a donation, we invite you to consider doing so. Funds collected in the Together In Mission campaign are used strictly to aid poor parishes and schools that are simply unable to support themselves. They truly depend on our help. For your convenience, Together In Mission envelopes are in the pews and at the back of the church. Thank you for considering this most worthy cause.



THE SACRED THREE DAYS: THE TRIDUUM
Holy Week at Old Mission Santa Barbara

Holy Thursday, April 8th
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
7:00 PM Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper
Good Friday, April 9th
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
12:00 Noon Outdoor Stations of the Cross
3:00 PM Solemn Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion
The Church will remain open for veneration until 8:00 PM
Holy Saturday, April 10th
7:30 AM Morning Prayer
8:00 PM Glorious Easter Vigil (Choir and Brass)
Easter Sunday Masses of the Lord’s Resurrection
7:30 AM (Cantor)
9:00 AM (Choir and Brass)
10:30 AM (Choir and Brass)
12:00 Noon (Schola)
With a Special Children’s Liturgy of the Word
and an Easter Egg Hunt following Mass


LILIES FOR THE CHURCH
Everyone is invited to donate Easter lilies or Boston ferns in the name of a loved one, living or deceased, which will be used to decorate the church and the Serra Chapel during the Easter season. Please bring the plants to the Parish Office by noon on Friday, April 9th. Thank you for your generosity!


CONFIRMATION
On Saturday, April 17th, at 2:00 PM, two youth, Neils Thorlaksson and Greg LaPaglia, and four adults, Gina Zondorak, Chad McClintock, Gary DeSantis, and Etienne Terlinden, from St. Barbara Parish will be Confirmed at St. Raphael Church. Please pray for these Confirmandi that they may always remain in Christ and be guided by the Holy Spirit. The last Youth Confirmation Session of the year is tonight, Sunday, April 4th. Meet at St. Raphael’s at 5:00 followed by Mass, Dinner, and classes until 9:15 PM.


HELP PREPARE THE CHURCH FOR EASTER
Join with us in a special labor of love! Many volunteers are needed on Holy Saturday morning to transform the Church for the most glorious solemnity of Easter. Please call Carol Parkus, 569-5639.


GOOD FRIDAY COLLECTION A CRY FOR HELP
In the land where Our Lord Jesus Christ chose to be born, where the ultimate loving sacrifice was made by his dying on the cross, and where his glorious resurrection took place . . . a desperate cry for help can be heard. For many centuries, the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem have each been charged with the protection of Christians and the care of our holy shrines, including the Tomb of Christ. On Good Friday, a special collection is taken up world-wide for this very important cause. Please be very generous this Good Friday as the needs are especially great this year due to the unrest in the land of Our Lord.

DISCERNMENT FOR PASTORAL COUNCIL
During all the Masses on the weekend of April 18th, all registered parishioners will be invited to recommend parishioners to serve as Pastoral Council members. According to the Archdiocesan guideline book, Communion and Consultation: Pastoral Council Guidelines, the specific task of the Pastoral Council is pastoral planning. The Council engages in a three-pronged process of study, reflection, and recommendation. Meetings are held monthly, on the last Tuesday of each month, and council members serve a three year term. The Pastoral Council candidate should be:
-visionary, creative and imaginative
-a facilitator of change and growth
-sensitive to tradition
-team oriented
-collaborative
-willing to commit time and energy outside
of Pastoral Council meetings
Each person nominated will be notified by Fr. Richard and invited to a meeting on Tuesday, May 4th, at 7:00 PM at which the vision and mission of the Council will be presented. Those who are willing to serve will be asked to state orally and in writing why they want to serve and the skills they would bring to the Council ministry. A committee of outgoing council members together with Fr. Richard will discern, by means of prayer and discussion, four new members for the Pastoral Council from those candidates.
“Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful.”