THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

In the meeting between Jesus and the Samaritan woman, we have a story with many levels of meaning. One of those comes late in the story when this woman, who started out speaking sarcastically in response to Jesus, ends up becoming the first evangelizer. She leaves her water jar and the job she came to do and spreads the word about her conversation with Jesus, making many converts among those to whom she gives witness. Her own conversion of heart and mind, like that of so many of us, followed the path from surprise to sarcasm to interior belief.

The key in this whole episode is the way Jesus listened. He sat and patiently began a conversation with someone who disagreed with him, gently listening and responding, even breaking a religious law by talking with her and drinking from her jar. He did not lose patience when she was sarcastic and hostile. Being a woman and a Samaritan put her on the lowest rung of society. Being involved in public scandal made her even more of an outcast. Yet Jesus listened to her, talked with her in public, and offered her acceptance, compassion, and dignity.

Acceptance, compassion, and dignity—aren’t these what each person desires? And how much more difficult that can be for those on the lower rungs of our society’s ladder. In this story, Jesus shows us how we are to behave, tells us to whom we should reach and out and listen.

Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

This Sunday, the Third Sunday of Lent, focuses our attention on Enlightenment. The liturgy, the readings, and the Rites of Christian Initiation of Adults (The RCIA), will deepen that focus. During these three weeks we hear proclaimed the gospels of the Samaritan Woman at the Well (Jesus our redeemer who is the living water and who dwells within us); the gospel of the Man Born Blind (Jesus is the Light of the World enlightening us); and the gospel of the Raising of Lazarus (Jesus, who is our resurrection and our life leads us to new life).

On these three Sundays, well actually at the four o’clock Saturday Masses, we celebrate the Scrutinies with those who are preparing to be baptized and received into full communion with the Church at the Easter Vigil. The Scrutinies are for us all, to lead us to uncover and heal our weakness and to strengthen all our goodness.

We are, all of us, seekers after Jesus. During this Lenten season, through our fasting and penance we especially seek the presence of the Spirit of Jesus within us. In the Eucharist we find nourishment and strength for our search and perhaps especially, the strength to act on the enlightenment we find.

All too often, I have seen some glimmers of light that I have never put into action in my life. Sometimes I get as far as making a note in my journal. Most of the time I just delay until I have the time, and by then all of the reasons not to just kind of take over. The Scrutinies help strengthen our resolve to hear God’s Word and put it into practice. We all need the strength to move into the future with hope.

Peace and all Good,

Fr. Richard Juzix, O.F.M.
Pastor

Parish Calendar

Today St. Vincent de Paul Blanket Drive

March 1 Lenten Faith Sharing Groups Meet at 10:00 AM and 7:30 PM

March 2 Taizé Prayer Around the Cross, 6:30 PM

March 4 Stations of the Cross at 12:00 Noon

March 5 First Reconciliation, 11:00 AM in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel

Do You Know ...

When Jesus meets the woman at the well, she asks him, “Give me living water always”. We can continue the prayer of the Samaritan woman and, like her, we can find Jesus at the edge of the waters that we encounter every day. For example, pray this line from Psalm 50 before you get into the shower or wash your face or hands:

Wash me with fresh water;
Wash me bright as snow.

Or use this line from Psalm 63 when you take up a glass of something to drink:

God, my God, you I crave;
My soul thirsts for you.

Try this verse from Psalm 65 when you water the garden or your houseplants:

With softening rain,
you bless the land with growth.

If you’re still sloshing around in puddles after the rains, pray this verse from Psalm 147:

God speaks, the ice melts.
God breathes, the streams flow.

Make up and write down a prayer giving God thanks for the gift of water or asking God’s protection from its dangers.

The Holy Season of Renewal

“Each year, you give us this
joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mystery
with mind and heart renewed.
You give us a spirit of loving reverence for you, our God,
and of willing service to our neighbor.”

Taizé Prayer Around the Cross

Please join us on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for Taizé prayer. This type of contemplative prayer and song leads us to God in and through the image of Christ crucified.


Lenten Observances

Good Friday is a day of Fast and Abstinence. All Catholics 14 years of age and older abstain from meat, and all Catholics 18 to 59 years of age eat sacrificially on this day. All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence from meat.

Praying the Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Friday during Lent at 12:00 Noon. Join us as we recall and meditate on Jesus’ journey from his condemnation to his burial in the tomb.

St. Vincent de Paul Annual Blanket Drive

The St. Vincent de Paul Conference of St. Barbara Parish is having their annual blanket drive after all Masses this weekend. This year we will be donating blankets to Project Recovery here in Santa Barbara. We will have a table outside the church for cash donations, as well as for receiving blankets. If you want to donate a new blanket, it must be for a single bed, and be machine washable. We will accept used blankets if they are in good condition, have been dry-cleaned, and are bagged. The extra cash that we collect will be used to buy bed sheets for Project Recovery, as well as help other needy people within our community. So please be generous. If you have questions, contact Richard Rink at 687-0514.


Marriage Retorno

Do you want to enrich your relationship with your spouse and with God? A Marriage Retorno weekend provides participating couples with an opportunity for a renewal of their relationship as a couple with God. For more information, please call Amber and Felix Masci at (805) 581-1670, or email them at afmasci@earthlink.net.

Pilgrimage to Italy and Sicily

Join Fr. Vince for a trip to the holy places of Italy and Sicily. We will visit Rome, Assisi, Capri, Venice, Palermo, a special Marian Festival in Sicily, ancient temples, and much more! The price is $3,500. Come along for a spirit-filled and joy-filled experience. For information, please call Fr. Vince Mesi, OFM, at (602) 354-2072. Ciao!


Attention Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors

The new ministry schedule for March 1st through May 1st is now available. Please pick up your copy in the Sacristy or in the Porter’s Office. Also in the Sacristy are schedules for Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors to sign up to serve on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday (the Easter Vigil) and Easter Sunday. Please call the Parish Office if you have any questions.


“Healing Through Forgiveness”

Experience the healing power of God through the ministry of Fr. John Hampsch, C.M.F. You are invited to attend this all-day seminar on Saturday, March 12th, from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, at Holy Cross Parish Hall (1740 Cliff Drive). A healing service will be included, as well as a light lunch. No reservations necessary. For more information, please call Larry Tupper (966-7804) or Pat Jenkins (495-5926).


We Pray for Those Who are Sick

Barbara Mete, Parishioner


Ushers … Please Take Note

We need your help at the Easter Masses, the fullest Masses of the year! Sign-up sheets can be found by the ushers’ closet. Please sign up today.


Los Angeles Catholic Alumni Club

The Los Angeles Catholic Alumni Club (singles) invites you to an easy day hike on Anacapa Island on Saturday, March 5th. Boat fare from Oxnard is $42. Please call Liane at (818) 708-6951 for information on this and other events.

Youth Altar Servers and Adult Acolytes Needed

We are always in need of more youth altar servers and adult acolytes. Training sessions for youth and adults are in progress. For more information, contact Bob and Claudia Chyla at 683-4966.

“Get on the Bus”

Most incarcerated women never see their children. On Friday, May 6th, you can help make it possible for children to see their mothers at the Valley State Prison for Women and the Central California Women’s Facility, both in Chowchilla; the Corona Institute for Women; and the Ventura Youth Authority for offenders ages 12 through 24. We are looking for people who can help with the hospitality committee, putting together gift bags and gathering medium-sized teddy bears to be given to the children on the way home, donating money for lunches for the bus trip home, or through your prayerful support as a faith community. If you would like to help in any way, please call Catherine Conneally-Salazar, Catholic Chaplain, Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, at (805) 278-3746.

Youth Ministry

Senior High “LifeTeen Mass” takes place Sunday evenings at 5:30 PM at our partner parish, St. Raphael’s. It is followed by “LifeNight” at 7:00 PM. The Junior High Youth Ministry “Tobiah Club” meets at St. Raphael’s on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 7:00 to 8:45 PM. For more information, please contact St. Raphael Parish Youth Minister, John Vasellina at 964-3466, ext. 1.

Catholic Charities Offers Professional Counseling Services

Catholic Charities Santa Barbara offers professional psychological counseling to individuals, couples and families. A very reasonable sliding scale is available. The office is located at 609 E. Haley. Call (805) 965-7045 x102 for English; Spanish speakers or bilingual call 965-7045 x114.

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 12:45 PM. Our mission is to help and to serve the poor. Call our voicemail at 687-7547 and leave a message for more information.

Prepare for Next Sunday’s Liturgy

Fourth Sunday of Lent

First Reading: 1 Samuel 16:1, 6-7, 10-13
Second Reading: Ephesians 5:8-14
Gospel Reading: John 9:1-41

Reflection on Next Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word

The themes of light and seeing come up again and again in next Sunday’s readings. In the first reading, Samuel is reminded to see others through God’s eyes: “Not as [a human being] sees does God see, because [a human being] sees the appearance, but the Lord looks into the heart.” And the whole drama of today’s Gospel revolves around those who see and those who fail to see. Sight in this story becomes a symbol of belief. Blindness is about more than just not being able to see with the eyes; it’s about the refusal to believe.


Life Focus

Speak of a time when simple or broken people saw things more clearly than the people who seem to have it all together.

Talk about an experience when healing or insight came in an unexpected way.

Relate an experience when you were blind to God’s love.

Relate an experience when your everyday rules and routines have kept you from “seeing” God.

Name a time when someone helped you change a negative attitude.



Readings for the Week of February 27, 2005


Monday:
2 Kgs 5:1-15/Ps 42:2-3;43:3-4/Lk 4:24-30
Tuesday:
Dn 3:25,34-43/Ps 25:4-9/Mt 18:21-35
Wednesday:
Dt 4:1,5-9/Ps 147:12-13,15-16,19-20/Mt 5:17-19
Thursday:
Jer 7:23-28/Ps 95:1-2,6-9/Lk 11:14-23
Friday:
Hos 14:2-10/Ps 81:6-11,14,17/Mk 12:28-34
Saturday:
Hos 6:1-6/Ps 51:3-4,18-21/Lk 18:9-14

Together in Mission Annual Appeal

“Together in Mission” is our opportunity to reach beyond our own parish boundaries and come together as a spiritual family to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who are most in need, in support of 32 parishes and 46 schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Many thanks to those who have already responded with either one-time donations or pledges. Our parish goal for this year is $59,362. Our hope is that each household will contribute according to their means. If you have not yet made a pledge to “Together in Mission,” please prayerfully consider doing so. Pledge cards are available on the table in the back of the church.


Stewardship Ministry

Sunday, February 20th $8,730.00


A good steward believes that everything you have and everything in the world around you is not yours, but is “on loan” from God, for you to care for accordingly.


Thank you for your continuing generosity!

Don’t forget to use your contribution envelopes.

Traveling?

For nationwide Mass times and locations, visit www.MassTimes.org.

Getting in the Parish Bulletin

For Parish announcements, call Laura in the Parish Office. Please contact Mission Publishing at (888) 253-4358 for business ads.

SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT

To see Jesus, dazzling and radiantly present, and stay in static contemplation was not enough for the apostles. It cannot be enough for us. We are meant to listen and live adventurously. Ours is a journey that leads us down from mountaintop experiences into valleys where visions become realities.

Sometimes the trail is clearly marked. The obstacles are visible and avoidable. Companions are compatible and numerous. Confidently, we march along at a good clip. However, at other moments, there will be a fearsome voyage into the unknown—the blind path of newness calling for our unique and personal trailblazing. Like Abram, we will be asked to go forth from the land of our kinsfolk—the place of comfort, ease and support. Go forth to a land known only to God, hidden from view, to be shown us when the time is right. It takes only one small step to begin the voyage.

Hearing, listening, looking, and seeing only Jesus—perhaps even holding our breath—that first tentative step is taken into the unknown mystery of Lent and onward to passion and resurrection. Following hopefully where we are led, a discovery is made. We are a changed people, one and all. Something profound and paradoxical is happening to us, with us, through us. Arising from our fear is a deeply rooted faith in God’s promise. We begin to see glimmers of fulfillment, shades of its presence. Another step is taken; a deepening truth is given and received.

“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing … in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

The promise is mind-boggling, fit for a mountaintop experience and found in the valleys of a tremulous life. There is but one requirement for its fulfillment, one divine request. Permit the touch of God to resurrect us from our fear-filled prostrations and protestations.


Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

On this second Sunday of Lent we hear proclaimed the event of Jesus’ transfiguration, this year from Matthew’s gospel. The transfiguration is a glimpse of what is to be. Then Jesus and his disciples descend from the mount of the transfiguration to climb the hill to Jerusalem and eventually the mount of Calvary leading to the resurrection of the Lord. As we have entered the journey of Lent last Sunday, the gospel holds to mirror of our own personal experience as well as our experience as Church. We have glimpses of what is to be…our dreams and hopes for the future. We also certainly have the experience of climbing uphill, going downhill to climb uphill again, and so on. How quickly we go from one to the other varies…sometimes it’s like a roller coaster, sometimes it feels like a very long climb. We know that Jesus is risen, but it is the little glimpses, the glimmers, the little experiences, that are like pulling back a curtain for a moment, that encourage us on our way.

This pulling back the curtain, the glimpsing, is part of the Eastern Church’s understanding of liturgy. In the East, the Mass is a glimmer of the glory of the great thanksgiving in the kingdom of Heaven; the Mass is a bit of a mystery and a bit of a window into the mystery. This divinization is not emphasized much in the Roman Rite; we need to be reminded that our symbols and our symbolic actions are not ends in themselves but are more “ways of seeing” or “symbol-seeing.”

As you plan your calendars, please keep in mind that the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday is the “symboling” of the Resurrection. The Easter Vigil, or the Easter Watch, is the time when we, through symbols fire, light, water, can see the event of Jesus rising, a present moment, especially through our “elect,” our “chosen ones,” who have been chosen by God and who will be Baptized and make Professions of Faith, will be Confirmed and receive Eucharist that night.

In the meanwhile, as we continue up hill and down, please remember our Lenten Communal Penance Services on Saturday, March 19th, at 10:30 AM, and Monday evening, March 21st, at 7:00 PM.

Peace and all Good,
Fr. Richard Juzix, O.F.M., Pastor


Parish Calendar

February 22 Pastoral Council Meeting, 7:00 PM
February 22 Lenten Faith Sharing Groups, 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM
February 23 Taizé Prayer Around the Cross, 6:30 PM
February 25 Stations of the Cross at 12:00 Noon

Do You Know ...

An icon—a holy picture—can help you pray. The Greek word icon means “image,” a sacred image of Jesus, Mary or a saint that is painted in two dimensions on wood panels, usually with egg tempera paints. Here’s how you can use an icon or other sacred image to focus your prayer.

You want to be in a comfortable position and you want to be able to look into the image’s eyes. If you don’t hang the image on a wall, you might find an easel to hold the image on a table.

Praying before an icon or a sacred image is a matter of looking deeply. Think of how deeply you look at the face of someone you love. You never tire of that face and you notice every detail—the way light and shadow fall across the nose and cheek, how the brow moves, and subtle changes of expression. Look at the sacred image this way, too. Such intense looking will center you in prayer, in the presence of the holy person depicted. You may want to light candles or incense before the sacred image, too.




“God of all, out of love you created us in your image as reflections of your goodness.
When we strayed from you, in your mercy
you called us back.
Look once again with kindness on your people. Forgive our sins, heal our wounds and grant us your peace and salvation.”


“May our prayers challenge us to love and embrace those who are poor and vulnerable;
May our fasting challenge us to live simply
and be better stewards of Your creation;
May our almsgiving challenge us
to give generously to those in need.”


The Holy Season of Renewal

“Each year, you give us this joyful season
when we prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mystery
with mind and heart renewed.
You give us a spirit of loving reverence for you, our God,
and of willing service to our neighbor.”

Lenten Observances

Good Friday is a day of Fast and Abstinence. All Catholics 14 years of age and older abstain from meat, and all Catholics 18 to 59 years of age eat sacrificially on this day. All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence from meat.

Taizé Prayer Around the Cross

Please join us on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for Taizé prayer. This type of contemplative prayer and song leads us to God in and through the image of Christ crucified.

Praying the Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Friday during Lent at 12:00 Noon. Join us as we recall and meditate on Jesus’ journey from his condemnation to his burial in the tomb.

Attention Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors

The new ministry schedule for March 1st through May 1st is now available. Please pick up your copy in the Sacristy or in the Porter’s Office. Also in the Sacristy are schedules for Eucharistic Ministers to sign up to serve on Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday (the Easter Vigil) and Easter Sunday. Please call the Parish Office if you have questions.

Ushers … Please Take Note

We need your help at the Easter Masses, the fullest Masses of the year! Sign-up sheets can be found by the ushers’ closet. Please sign up today.

Youth Ministry

Senior High “LifeTeen Mass” takes place Sunday evenings at 5:30 PM at our partner parish, St. Raphael’s. It is followed by “LifeNight” at 7:00 PM. The Junior High Youth Ministry “Tobiah Club” meets at St. Raphael’s on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 7:00 to 8:45 PM. For more information, please contact St. Raphael Parish Youth Minister, John Vasellina at 964-3466, ext. 1.

“Get on the Bus”

Most incarcerated women never see their children. On Friday, May 6th, you can help make it possible for children to see their mothers at the Valley State Prison for Women and the Central California Women’s Facility, both in Chowchilla; the Corona Institute for Women; and the Ventura Youth Authority for offenders ages 12 through 24. We are looking for people who can help with the hospitality committee, putting together gift bags and gathering medium-sized teddy bears to be given to the children on the way home, donating money for lunches for the bus trip home, or through your prayerful support as a faith community. If you would like to help in any way, please call Catherine Conneally-Salazar, Catholic Chaplain, Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, at (805) 278-3746.

Youth Altar Servers and Adult Acolytes Needed

We are always in need of more youth altar servers and adult acolytes. Training sessions for youth and adults are in progress. For more information, please contact Bob and Claudia Chyla at (805) 683-4966.

Secular Franciscans

Secular Franciscans are a community of Catholic men and women who seek to pattern their lives after Christ in the spirit of St. Francis. This international order was founded by St. Francis of Assisi almost 800 years ago. For more information, please contact Bob Carman at 964-1042.

St. Vincent de Paul Annual Blanket Drive

The St. Vincent de Paul Conference of St. Barbara Parish is having their annual blanket drive after all Masses on the weekend of February 26-27. This year we will be donating blankets to Project Recovery here in Santa Barbara. We will have a table outside the church for cash donations, as well as for receiving blankets. If you want to donate a new blanket, it must be for a single bed, and be machine washable. We will accept used blankets if they are in good condition, have been dry-cleaned, and are bagged. The extra cash that we collect will be used to buy bed sheets for Project Recovery, as well as help other needy people within our community. So please be generous. If you have questions, contact Richard Rink at 687-0514.

Baptized Into New Life

Zach George Herrera

Son of George Herrera
and Veronica Herrera

?

Thomas Robert Tompkins

Son of Gregory Tompkins
and Lisa Gullette

Help Stop Physician-Assisted Suicide

State legislation is again being proposed to legalize physician-assisted suicide for Californians. Once legal, suicide could be encouraged to preserve an inheritance, hide medical malpractice, or increase HMO profit. No real safeguard can be made to prevent such abuse. Join with the California Catholic Conference, California Medical Association and twenty-one other organizations in rejecting assisted suicide as compassion and care.

How can you help?

• Sign a petition asking Legislators to oppose assisted suicide.
• Phone, fax or write Governor Schwarzenegger and your Assembly Member. Ask them to stand against any bill legalizing physician-assisted suicide.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building, Sacramento, CA 95814
Tel (916) 445-2841 • Fax (916) 445-4633
www.govmail.ca.gov
•
Assembly Member Pedro Nava
101 W. Anapamu St., #A, Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Tel (805) 564-1649 • Fax (805) 564-1651
Assemblymember.nava@asm.ca.gov


Always Our Children

The Catholic support group for parents of Gay and Lesbian Children from the Santa Barbara and Ventura area meets on the fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting is Tuesday, February 22nd, at 7:30 PM. This is a safe and comfortable environment where you can share your feelings and fears, and ask questions. The meetings are informative and confidential. For more information, please call Kathie and Joe Schneider at 687-4338.

Pilgrimage to Italy and Sicily

Join Fr. Vince for a trip to the holy places of Italy and Sicily. We will visit Rome, Assisi, Capri, Venice, Palermo, a special Marian Festival in Sicily, ancient temples, and much more! The price is $3,500. Come along for a spirit-filled and joy-filled experience. For information, please call Fr. Vince Mesi, OFM, at (602) 354-2072. Ciao!

Prepare for Next Sunday’s Liturgy

Third Sunday of Lent

First Reading: Exodus 17:3-7
Second Reading: Romans 5:1-2, 5-8
Gospel Reading: John 4:5-42


Reflection on Next Sunday’s Liturgy of the Word

Next Sunday’s Gospel is about the water that gives life, about getting beyond physical thirst to a deeper thirst for trust and love. Jesus draws the Samaritan woman through a solidly physical understanding of thirst and water to an honest look at her life and her need for conversion, and finally a recognition of who he is as the Messiah, the one who will quench all the thirsts of the people. In turn, this woman seeks out the townspeople and invites them to meet Jesus. Conversion is a slow process, but the patient persistence of Jesus will quench our thirst—in spite of ourselves. And it always moves us beyond our own nourishment to an active involvement in the lives of others.


Life Focus

Describe an experience when a barrier in your life was broken down.

What have you experienced that was so exciting you had to share it?

Who are the individuals or groups in your life from whom you are least likely to hear truth?

Relate an experience when you’ve found freedom through another.

Readings for the Week of February 20, 2005


Monday:
Dn 9:4-10/Ps 79:8-9,11,13/Lk 6:36-38
Tuesday:
1 Pt 5:1-4/Ps 23:1-6/Mt 16:13-19
Wednesday:
Jer 18:18-20/Ps 31:5-6,14-16/Mt 20:17-28
Thursday:
Jer 17:5-10/Ps 1:1-4,6/Lk 16:19-31
Friday:
Gn 37:3-4,12-13/17-28/Ps 105:16-21/Mt 21:33-43,45-46
Saturday:
Mi 7:14-15,18-20/Ps 103:1-4,9-12/Lk 15:1-3,11-32

Stewardship Ministry

Sunday, February 13th $10,964.00

A good steward believes that everything you have and everything in the world around you is not yours, but is “on loan” from God, for you to care for accordingly.

Thank you for your continuing generosity!

Together in Mission Annual Appeal

“Together in Mission” is our opportunity to reach beyond our own parish boundaries and come together as a spiritual family to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who are most in need, in support of 32 parishes and 46 schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Many thanks to those who have already responded with either one-time donations or pledges. Our parish goal for this year is $59,362. Our hope is that each household will contribute according to their means. If you have not yet made a pledge to “Together in Mission,” please prayerfully consider doing so. Pledge cards are available on the table in the back of the church.

Traveling?

For nationwide Mass times and locations, visit www.MassTimes.org.

Getting in the Parish Bulletin

For Parish announcements, call Laura in the Parish Office. Contact Mission Publishing at (888) 253-4358 for business ads.

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT

Today we hear stories of temptations in sacred places: life-changing decisions set in a garden sanctuary and a solitary time in a desert.

In Genesis we enter a type of paradise on earth where every day was a Sabbath day of leisure and pleasure, where God also planted a key for exiting the enclosure, if the man and woman so chose—the tree growing the forbidden fruit. They needed only to use their free will to turn the key and leave the sanctuary or stay. We do not know how long they resisted the temptation, but finally Eve and Adam chose to eat the fruit.

Like the first people, we do not always see evil, because it disguises itself as seductive beauty, righteous truth, and the ever-tempting “good idea.” When life’s circumstances of glamorous people try us, we stand right there with Adam, Eve and Jesus to face our tests. No matter what the setting, temptation is an integral part of human life, the companion of free will.

There are some puzzling contradictions in the two stories of the temptations in sacred places. Adam and Eve failed their test and had to leave their holy space to struggle in a world of sweaty labor, disappointment, pain, and death. Jesus passed his test and returned to the world to labor, sweat, experience disappointment, pain, and death. Punishment for the first Adam was ministry for the “second Adam.”

After his spectacular baptism, Jesus follows God’s Spirit into the desert, traveling a path of heart, answering God’s irresistible voice. Instead of immediately beginning his teaching and healing ministry, Jesus immerses himself in days of silence and Sabbath time—a lonely, courageous journey into the center of himself. Although weak from hunger by the time he met the tempter, Jesus had become so spiritually strong in the fruits of solitude that he successfully passed all temptations against loneliness, simplicity, and false power. He knew that true power resided within himself. Only then did Jesus go out to serve.

If self-knowledge is the basis of effective ministry, spending Sabbath time of solitude gave Jesus a perspective as vastly clear as a desert sky, making him a useful lamp for the world. Sabbath time renews us and gives us certain peace and strength for service not found elsewhere.


Dear Parishioners and Visitors,
As you entered the church today, you noticed that the church has taken on a different character. There are no flowers. There are no votive candles. For the faithful, Lent is a season of “less is more” so that our attention will be more focused on deepening our union with the triune God. You also noticed that the baptismal font has been drained and sealed. During this period of Lent, all of us “fast” from the waters of baptism in solidarity with those who are preparing themselves to be baptized on Holy Saturday night.

On this First Sunday of Lent, parishes joyfully send their catechumens to the Rite of Election at which the bishop recognizes them as the “elect” of God, and they begin their final preparation period toward the Easter sacraments of baptism, confirmation and first Eucharist. Please continue to pray for our catechumen—about to become an elect— Kris Reid. Many parishes, including St. Barbara, also send their candidates for full initiation to the Rite of the Call to Continuing Conversion, which follows the Rite of Election. We are sending Terry Bascombe to this rite; please keep her in prayer, too.

As you journey through this Lent, you are invited to join us for our Lenten devotions: Taizé Prayer Around the Cross each Wednesday at 6:30 PM, and the Stations of the Cross each Friday at noon. May you be filled with blessings during this holy season of Lent.

Love, Pat


Parish Calendar

February 16 Taizé Prayer at 6:30 PM

February 18 Stations of the Cross, 12:00 Noon

February 18-20 Religious Education Congress

February 22 Pastoral Council Meeting, 7:00 PM

February 22 Lenten Faith Sharing Groups, 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM

Do You Know ...

When and how do you pray? Do you read a biblical passage and reflect on it for a while? Do you pray the rosary and meditate on its mysteries? Do you simply sit in the quiet and peace of the Lord’s presence?

There is no one particular hour each day that best suits everyone. The idea is to find the best hour—the one that fits your lifestyle—so that, if you skip it, you will miss it.

Similarly, there is no particular place for prayer that best suits everyone. Some like to pray in the privacy of their home or apartment. Others prefer to pray outdoors. Still others opt for the prayerful environment of their parish church.

The important thing is to pray each day. If you begin to set aside a definite time for prayer each day during Lent, you soon learn that it influences the rest of your day. And you will want to continue that habit of prayer every day throughout the year.

“Whatever is true, whatever is honorable,
whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious,
if there is any excellence,
if there is anything worthy of praise,
think about these things.”



“Jesus, lead us in your Spirit
to our innermost hearts,
to self-knowledge and the power
to act in your name.



The Holy Season
of Renewal

“Each year, you give us this
joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the Paschal Mystery
with mind and heart renewed.
You give us a spirit of loving reverence for you, our God, and of willing service to our neighbor.”


Taizé Prayer Around the Cross

Please join us on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel for Taizé prayer. This type of contemplative prayer and song leads us to God in and through the image of Christ crucified.

Praying the Stations of the Cross

The Stations of the Cross will be prayed each Friday during Lent at 12:00 Noon, beginning February 18th. Join us as we recall and meditate on Jesus’ journey from his condemnation to his burial in the tomb.

Lenten Observances

Good Friday is a day of Fast and Abstinence. All Catholics 14 years of age and older abstain from meat, and all Catholics 18 to 59 years of age eat sacrificially on this day. All Fridays in Lent are days of abstinence from meat.

Community Kitchen Donation Boxes

Community Kitchen donation boxes are available in the church today. Community Kitchen is a non-profit organization that exists solely to feed the hungry and homeless of Santa Barbara. Every year, more than 350 volunteers serve over ten thousand hot, nutritious meals. Try the “Community Kitchen Diet” … fill your donation box with money you save by cutting down and simplifying your meals during Lent.

Southeast Asia Disaster Relief Fund

The Archdiocese has established a disaster relief fund with all of the proceeds going directly to Catholic Relief Services, an international agency that is providing emergency assistance in each of the countries affected by the tsunami. Checks should be made payable to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles with the designation, “Southeast Asia Disaster Relief Fund” somewhere on the check. Please send your checks to:
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Southeast Asia Disaster Relief Fund
3424 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90010

The Society of St. Vincent de Paul

We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 12:45 PM. Our mission is to help and to serve the poor. Call our voicemail at 687-7547 and leave a message for more information.

Secular Franciscans

Secular Franciscans are a community of Catholic men and women who seek to pattern their lives after Christ in the spirit of St. Francis. This international order was founded by St. Francis of Assisi almost 800 years ago. For more information, please contact Bob Carman at 964-1042.

Youth Ministry

Senior High “LifeTeen Mass” takes place Sunday evenings at 5:30 PM at our partner parish, St. Raphael’s. It is followed by “LifeNight” at 7:00 PM. The Junior High Youth Ministry “Tobiah Club” meets at St. Raphael’s on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 7:00 to 8:45 PM. For more information, please contact St. Raphael Parish Youth Minister, John Vasellina at 964-3466, ext. 1.


“Get on the Bus”
Most incarcerated women never see their children. On Friday, May 6th, you can help make it possible for children to see their mothers at the Valley State Prison for Women and the Central California Women’s Facility, both in Chowchilla; the Corona Institute for Women; and the Ventura Youth Authority for offenders ages 12 through 24. We are looking for people who can help with the hospitality committee, putting gether grift bags and gathering medium-sized Teddy Bears to be given to the children on the way home, donating money for lunches for the bus trip home, or through your prayerful support as a faith community. If you would like to help in any way, please call Catherine Conneally-Salazar, Catholic Chaplain, Ventura Youth Correctional Facility, at (805) 278-3746.

Youth Altar Servers and Adult Acolytes Needed

We are always in need of more youth altar servers and adult acolytes. Training sessions for youth and adults are in progress. For more information, please contact Bob and Claudia Chyla at 683-4966.


Seven Ways to Make Mass “Better”

Too often, people “plop” down in a pew, put in their time with little enthusiasm except to make sure they “get” Communion, and gratefully dash out when it’s over, having just missed what could be one of the most profound and meaningful experiences of their entire week. The thing that makes all the difference is participation.

So, how do you participate better and improve your Mass experience?

· Learn about liturgy. Read books. Take a class.
· Read the scriptures beforehand. Notice themes, connections and especially challenges for your life.
· Be welcoming. Smile at people and introduce yourself to someone you don’t know.
· Sing with gusto, even if you don’t have a stellar voice. Really notice the words you are singing so you can consciously pray them.
· Say responses and prayers with feeling. When you say “Amen” or “Thanks be to God” or “Lord, have mercy,” mean it.
· Actively listen through the entire celebration, especially when someone else proclaims the texts or prayers.
· Pray that God will open your heart and work through you. God longs to pour grace into your heart, but you have to be willing to accept it.


Pilgrimage to Italy and Sicily

Join Fr. Vince for a trip to the holy places of Italy and Sicily. We will visit Rome, Assisi, Capri, Venice, Palermo, a special Marian Festival in Sicily, ancient temples, and much more! The price is $3,500. Come along for a spirit-filled and joy-filled experience. For information, please call Fr. Vince Mesi, OFM, at (602) 354-2072. Ciao!


Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Action Ask Magazines to Use Recycled Paper

Magazine production in the United States consumes at least 2.2 million tons of paper each year, which requires more than 35 million trees. Let the publishers of the magazines you read know that you want them to switch to recycled paper. One suggestion is to send a postcard with the following message:
“Dear Publishers: Please print on recycled paper. Go to www.EcoPaperAction.org to learn how.”

Attention Young Adults!

Bridge Building of Santa Barbara, a spirituality program for young adults, invites you to attend their Spring Series, Journeys of Faith, with Fr. Jack Robinson, OFM. The first of his series, titled “Francis, the Young Adult of Assisi—His Journey of Faith and Yours,” is at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, February 15th, at Bishop Diego Center (4032 La Colina Road, Santa Barbara). Come and join in a lively conversation. For more information, email BridgeSantaBarb@aol.com or call 682-1508.

Prepare for Next Sunday’s Liturgy

Second Sunday of Lent

First Reading: Genesis 12:1-42
Second Reading: 2 Timothy 1:8-10
Gospel Reading: Matthew 17:1-9

Reflection on Next Sunday’s
Liturgy of the Word

God calls Abram to leave his own country on the strength of a promise of future greatness. Abram trusts God and goes on trusting through the difficult journeys ahead. In the Gospel, Jesus and three of his disciples journey to the top of a mountain, the traditional place where God speaks and shows himself. Jesus again hears his own call, a reminder of who he is and the great trial that lies ahead. Peter, James and John, the same three disciples who will be with him during the agony in the Garden of Gethsamane, are blessed with a vision of Jesus as the risen Lord in all his glory. They hear God’s voice and clear call: “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased; listen to him.” This vision and call move them down the mountain and toward the promise of glory on the other side of suffering.


Life Focus

When in your life were you able to “move on” in spite of fear of the unknown?

Describe a time when the joy of the moment gave you a sense that the rest of life was worthwhile.

What feelings did you experience when you were required to leave “home” to move to a new place?

Readings for the Week of February 13, 2005


Monday:
Lv 19:1-2,11-18/Ps 19:8-10,15/Mt 25:31-46
Tuesday:
Is 55:10-11/Ps 34:4-7,16-19/Mt 6:7-15
Wednesday:
Jon 3:1-10/Ps 51:3-4,12-13/18-19/Lk 11:29-32
Thursday:
Est C: 12,14-16,23-25/Ps 138:1-3,7-8/Mt 7:7-12
Friday:
Ez 18:21-28/Ps 130:1-8/Mt 5:20-26
Saturday:
Dt 26:16-19/Ps 119:1-2,4-5,7-8/Mt 5:43-48

Stewardship Ministry
A good steward believes that everything you have and everything in the world around you is not yours, but is “on loan” from God, for you to care for accordingly.


Sunday, February 6th $11,698.00


Don’t forget to use your contribution envelopes.

If you are not receiving envelopes, please call the Parish Office.

Together in Mission Annual Appeal

“Together in Mission” is our opportunity to reach beyond our own parish boundaries and come together as a spiritual family to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those who are most in need, in support of 32 parishes and 46 schools in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Many thanks to those who have already responded with either one-time donations or pledges. Our parish goal for this year is $59,362. Our hope is that each household will contribute according to their means. If you have not yet made a pledge to “Together in Mission,” please consider doing so today. Thank you!


Traveling?

For nationwide Mass times and locations, visit www.MassTimes.org.

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Of all the teachings of Jesus, the beatitudes are among the most inspiring and the most challenging. Addressed to both the crowds and the disciples, this list represents the essence of how one lives out the covenant with God and others. This is where Torah (Law) and gospel meet to express a simple covenantal way of life that is still prophetically ahead of God’s people calling us to respond in maturity, wholeness, and simple trust.

The beatitudes are about life and about how to live. All who can live them are called “blessed.” Some translations say “happy.” Commentators have remarked that the meaning is close to “congratulations,” as if in living the beatitudes, one has come upon the deep secrets of how to live a human life. Perhaps we might even begin each beatitude with the phrase, “The most fully alive are” the poor in spirit, those who mourn, etc. The beatitudes are about life and how to live it.

The most prominent time this passage is proclaimed in the liturgy is on the Feast of All Saints. A saint is one who willingly participates in poverty, mourning, and meekness, who hungers for justice, mercy and peace, who seeks integrity while enduring persecution for the sake of promoting the “uprightness” that Torah and gospel describe.

Participation in the reign of God is about the process of being transformed into the fullness of what it means to be a human. The beatitudes describe what a fully mature human being looks like.

When we speak of human advancement, we usually think in terms of intelligence or wealth or technology. God has a different definition of what an “advanced” person would be like. We are not there yet. We still have work to do.


Dear Parishioners and Visitors,

Wednesday, February 2nd, is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord. It has also been known as the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin and as Candlemas. According to Jewish tradition of the time, women were secluded from forty to eighty days after the birth of a child. The seclusion ended by bringing the child to the temple. The feast commemorates the time when Mary brought Jesus to the temple, and the meeting with Simeon and Anna. It is an Epiphany-style feast, a feast of Christ being made known to the world.

The feast has roots in various European and Near Eastern pagan celebrations regarding light, the fertility of the earth, and washing/purifying/renewing. Brigid’s Day is perhaps one of the more famous. Brigid was a pagan Celtic grain goddess who had a sacred fire at Kildare and whose statue was brought to the sea on this day for cleansing. February 2nd is about the time farmers would begin turning the soil in preparation for March planting. For us, the feast clearly looked toward Easter. February 2nd is the day candles are traditionally blessed for use in church and in homes. It is the symbol of light—the connection between Jesus coming to the temple for the first time and Jesus’ sacrifice as our high priest who, as the Letter to the Hebrews proclaims, “entered the sanctuary to offer the sacrifice once and for all to take away our sins.”

In the spirit of looking forward to Spring and our planting and before we begin the penance of Lent, now is a good time to celebrate beginning again—turning the soil of our minds and hearts and doing something with lights and candles to rejoice in Christ, the Light of Revelation to the peoples. And especially keep our young servicemen and servicewomen in your prayers, as well as the people of Iraq, that the Iraqis may find a new beginning with such a radically new experience as an election and our children will all return home soon and safely.

And on Wednesday, February 2nd, if you should come to the 7:30 Mass with a candle or a box of candles, they will be blessed before Mass.

Peace and all Good,

Fr. Richard Juzix, O.F.M.
Pastor

PARISH CALENDAR

February 2 Baptism Class at 6:30 PM
February 5 Baptisms at the 4:00 PM Mass
February 6 Together in Mission Follow-Up
February 8 Mardi Gras Party
February 9 Ash Wednesday, Masses at 7:30 AM, 12:00 Noon and 7:00 PM
February 16 Taizé Payer at 6:30 PM

DO YOU KNOW ...

How are the readings for each Sunday chosen? Each Sunday, the word of God is proclaimed in our church in the form of three scripture readings and a psalm. The first reading and the psalm always come from the first testament of the Bible (the “Old Testament”), except during Easter season, when the first reading is from the Acts of the Apostles. The second reading is a selection from one of the non-gospel books of the second testament of the Bible (the “New Testament”). The third reading is always chosen from one of the gospels—Matthew, Mark, Luke or John. It is clear from the title “liturgy of the word” that the scriptures are an integral part of Sunday Eucharist.

The emphasis on a more thorough and varied use of the scriptures is a direct result of the renewal of the liturgy called for by the Second Vatican Council: “The treasures of the Bible are to be opened up more lavishly, so that richer fare may be provided for the faithful at the table of God’s word.” To meet this need, a new lectionary (or book of readings for worship) was published in 1970. It included assigned texts for each Sunday based on a three-year cycle of readings. And, as noted above, each Sunday included three readings and a responsorial psalm.

This was a major change. Previously, only one set of Sunday readings was used year after year. Two readings and a psalm verse were appointed for each Sunday. And one of those readings, the gospel, was almost always from the Gospel of Matthew. The gospel readings in the 1970 lectionary include selections from all four evangelists: Matthew in what is called Year A, Mark in Year B and Luke in Year C. We hear the Gospel of John during the major liturgical seasons as well as during Year B (the year of Mark), perhaps because Mark’s gospel is the shortest of the four and wouldn’t otherwise fill out the whole year.

The gospels were assigned first. The first reading was chosen for its connection to the day’s gospel. The psalm that follows the first reading is related to it. The psalm is the assembly’s response to the word that has just been proclaimed. The second reading is not necessarily related to the other readings. Selections from the chosen book are simply read somewhat in order.


RECYCLE SIGHT

Donate used and old eyeglasses to the Lions Sight and Hearing Center. Call 569-8264 to receive a list of specially marked boxes in selected drop-off sites.


YOUTH ALTAR SERVERS AND ADULT ACOLYTES NEEDED

We are always in need of more youth altar servers and adult acolytes. Training sessions for youth and adults are in progress. For more information, please contact Bob and Claudia Chyla at (805) 683-4966.


MUSIC NOTES

If you are a singer or instrumentalist, your musical gifts are needed at our liturgies. Please contact Dr. Keith Paulson-Thorp, Music Director, for details on how you might join in our music ministries.


2005 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CONGRESS

The annual Religious Education Congress at Anaheim is ready to enrich and revitalize us once more. Sponsored by the Office of Religious Education at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, the Congress draws 35,000 participants over the course of this internationally acclaimed four day event. This year, there will be more than 270 workshops available to choose from, covering a vast range of topics and interests from spirituality, ethics, and personal development to biblical studies, theology, social concerns, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, and whole community catechesis.

For more information or to register, you may stop by the Parish Office for a guidebook, or call the RE Congress info line at (213) 637-7346. Online registration is also available at www.RECongress.org.


YOUTH MINISTRY

Senior High “LifeTeen Mass” takes place Sunday evenings at 5:30 PM at our partner parish, St. Raphael’s. It is followed by “LifeNight” at 7:00 PM. The Junior High Youth Ministry “Tobiah Club” meets at St. Raphael’s on the first and third Thursdays of each month from 7:00 to 8:45 PM. For more information, please contact St. Raphael Parish Youth Minister, John Vasellina at 964-3466, ext. 1.


ARE YOU IN SEARCH OF SOLACE?

Begin your private retreat journey at the Immaculate Heart Center for spiritual renewal in the hills of Santa Barbara. Please call 969-2474 for reservations. To learn more about this place of spiritual sojourn, please visit their web site at www.immaculateheartcenter.org.


THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 12:45 PM. Our mission is to help and to serve the poor. Call our voicemail at 687-7547 and leave a message for more information.

THE FRANCISCAN MISSIONARY UNION

This weekend you will be encouraged to support the Franciscan Missionary Union through a second collection that will be taken up at all the Masses. Throughout the year, Franciscan Parishes hold this second collection on fifth Sundays. If you have already made a contribution in it, we thank you for your support.

The Franciscans minister to God's needy all over the world. The missionary work of the St. Barbara Province has expanded over the years to include rural parishes, Hispanic and Native American missions and ministry among the poor of the inner cities. In other parts of the world, our friars work with church communities in the Philippines, Mexico, Thailand, Peru, Guatemala, El Salvador, Russia, Kazakhstan, and the Holy Land.

Over the years, the Franciscans have been assisted in their missionary efforts by people sharing their spiritual and financial resources through the Franciscan Missionary Union (FMU). The FMU is an association of persons who help the missions by their prayers, alms, spreading knowledge and love for the missions and encouraging missionary vocations - all works of the highest charity.

The Franciscans invite you to become partners with them in this ministry of love and compassion. Through your support of the Franciscan Missionary Union, you become partners in the work of the Franciscan Missionaries. Please join us!


CONSIDER REMEMBERING YOUR PARISH IN YOUR WILL OR TRUST

For more information, please contact H. Richard Closson, Archdiocesan Director, Trust and Estate Programs (213) 637-7472, HRClosson@la-arch-diocese.org. The correct legal title for our parish is: Roman Catholic Archbishop of Los Angeles, A Corporation Sole for the Benefit of St. Barbara Parish.


LENTEN FAITH SHARING GROUPS

Beginning Tuesday, February 15th, our parish will embark on a Lenten process to celebrate the “Year of the Eucharist.” Pope John Paul II has asked Catholics throughout the world to spend time from October 2004 to October 2005 deepening their understanding of this important sacrament.

We will be using an adult faith-sharing program that takes its title from the Holy Father’s message to Catholics, Eucharist: Source and Summit of Life and Mission of the Church. Each week will focus on a different topic as small groups read the Bible and discuss the meaning of Eucharist in their lives today.

Small groups will meet on Tuesday mornings and evenings to offer the best opportunity for most members of the parish to be able to participate. Please see the sign-up board in front of the Church after Mass this weekend. We encourage you to plan now to be part of this parish-wide opportunity.

MINISTERS OF HOLY COMMUNION

There will be a training and formation workshop at the Cathedral on Saturday, February 5th, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM. For information, go to www.laliturgy.org, and click on “Formation,” then “Formation Days.”


SOUTHEAST ASIA DISASTER RELIEF FUND

The Archdiocese has established a disaster relief fund with all of the proceeds going directly to Catholic Relief Services, an international agency that is providing emergency assistance in each of the countries affected by the tsunami. Checks should be made payable to the Archdiocese of Los Angeles with the designation, “Southeast Asia Disaster Relief Fund” somewhere on the check. Please send your checks to:
Archdiocese of Los Angeles
Southeast Asia Disaster Relief Fund
3424 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90010


BAPTIZED INTO NEW LIFE

Gabriel Aidan Bazan
Son of Guillermo and Marie Bazan

Jessica Faith Columbo
Daughter of Jonathan and Martina Columbo

James Michael Sanchez
Son of Sergio and Pamela Sanchez


IT’S A MARDI GRAS PARTY

Beads! Creole Food! Kings Cake! We’re having a party and hope you’ll come. Join in the revelry at our annual Mardi Gras celebration. The festivities begin at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, February 8th, at Serra Hall. Wear your best costume! Dance to the music!

Purple is for justice ? Green is for faith
Gold is for power ? Plantation Punch is for fun
Hurricanes are for headaches
Po'boys are for the spirit ? Beignets are for coffee

Laissez Les Bon Temps Roulez!


“BE THEIR VALENTINE”

St. Vincent’s Casa Alegria Children’s Center (4200 Calle Real) invites you to join them for an open house fundraiser on Friday, February 4th, from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. There will be wine, food and raffle items. For more information and RSVP, please call Lupe Montero at 683-6381 x127, or visit their web site at www.stvincents-sb.org.


WE NEED HELP WITH THE PHONES

We’re looking for volunteers to answer the telephone in the Porter’s Office on Saturdays and Sundays from 12:00 Noon until 5:00 PM. Please call Ed O’Donnell at 682-4713 if you are interested.



SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY

Eric Andrew Hager and Annamarie Romo


PREPARE FOR NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

First Reading: Isaiah 58:7-10

Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 2:1-5

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:13-16

REFLECTION ON NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY OF THE WORD

Isaiah reminds the people that, if they learn to care for one another, they will be able to receive God’s care. Their rituals must express a genuine conversion of their hearts. They cannot fast expecting to twist God’s arm. Jesus, likewise, calls his followers to conduct their lives so that they will call attention to the presence of God within them. Salt, light and a city on a hill are clear ways to show what this message means.


LIFE FOCUS

Who in your life might help you find courage, meaning, energy for living?

When were you able to brighten someone’s day?

Relate a time when someone said, “I’m happy you were here.”



Readings for the Week of January 30, 2005

Monday:
Heb 11:32-40/Ps 31:20-24/Mk 5:1-20
Tuesday:
Heb 12:1-4/Ps 22:26-28,30-32/Mk 5:21-43
Wednesday:
Mal 3:1-4/Ps 24:7-10/Heb 2:14-18/Lk 2:22-40
Thursday:
Heb 12:18-19,21-24/Ps 48:2-4,9-11/Mk 6:7-13
Friday:
Heb 13:1-8/Ps 27:1,3,5,8-9/Mk 6:14-29
Saturday:
Heb 13:15-17,20-21/Ps 23:1-6/Mk 6:30-34

STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY
A good steward believes that everything you have and everything in the world around you is not yours, but is “on loan” from God, for you to care for accordingly.

Sunday, January 16th $10,103.00

Sunday, January 23rd $9,261.00


Thank you for your continuing generosity!


GETTING IN THE PARISH BULLETIN

For Parish announcements, call Laura in the Parish Office. Contact Mission Publishing at (888) 253-4358 for business ads.