SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

This interruption of Mark during Ordinary Time gives us a description of the food that sustains us on our paschal journey. Today’s gospel informs us that Jesus is the one who feeds us on the journey—feeds us himself in word (teachings) and deed (sacramental self). No matter how much “dying” we encounter on our journey, Jesus always nourishes us and sustains us if we have eyes to see and believe in the sign he gives. People are hungry. Jesus feeds them. In this sign we know that we are never alone on our journey to eternal life.

When we turn to Jesus, what do we see? We often appropriately turn to Jesus in our needs. This gospel reminds us that we must also turn to Jesus in gratitude for the fullness of life that he offers and for the special gift of Bread that he gives us to sustain us on our paschal journey. The superabundance of food Jesus provides for the crowd from so little is a sign of the fullness of life Jesus has to offer. We turn to Jesus not just for bread but for life. Our deepest human hunger—for abundance of life—can only be met in Jesus. Jesus is more than a miracle worker or prophet or king. He is the one who offers life.

May we always hunger for the life that Jesus alone gives.

May we share in the abundance God has provided for us in so many ways.


TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading—2 Kings 4:42-44
When they had eaten, there was some left over, as the Lord had said.

Responsorial Psalm—Psalm 145
The hand of the Lord fees us; he shall answer all our needs.

Second Reading—Ephesians 4:1-6
Strive to preserve the unity of the spirit through the bond of peace.

Gospel—John 6:1-15
Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining,
and also as much of the fish as they wanted.


THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WELCOMES YOU!

Are you thinking about becoming a Catholic? We would be happy to talk with you about the process. Please call the Parish Office to make an appointment.

If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church, know you are in our prayers. We invite you to call to explore your faith and your future with us.


DEAR PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS,

Fr. Daniel, Roy Spicer and I will be attending the National Pastoral Musicians conference this week. It seems like the perfect time to offer a reflection on music and liturgy. In one short sentence I can say, without qualification, that music is integral to the celebration of Eucharist. The preeminence of music in Catholic worship is well articulated in the Vatican II document on the Sacred Liturgy: “The musical tradition of the universal church is a treasure of inestimable value, greater even than that of any other art.” According to the U.S. Bishops, every celebration of our faith, including funerals, sacraments and special devotions should include music and singing. Even so, we are cautioned, the essential function of sacred music is ministerial; that is to say it is to serve the liturgy and should never dominate.

The primary purpose of sacred music is to assist the assembled believers to express and share the gift of faith that is within them. Secondly, it is meant to nourish and strengthen our commitment of faith. Music is used to heighten the scriptural texts so that they speak more fully and effectively. In addition, it has the capacity to unveil a dimension of meaning and feeling, a communication of ideas and intuitions, which words alone cannot convey. Music imparts a sense of unity within the congregation and it sets the appropriate tone for a particular celebration. Finally, the quality of joy and enthusiasm that music adds to our worship simply cannot be gained in any other way.

In our parish, we are blessed with dedicated musicians who minister to us each Sunday by leading and supporting us in song. In turn, we are called to minister to one another by singing the hymns and responses. Do not let concerns about the quality of your voice keep you from singing. Just keep in mind the words of St. Augustine, “Do not allow yourselves to be offended by the imperfect while you strive for the perfect.” Sing out in praise and glory to God.

Have a great week!
Patricia Sandall, Pastoral Associate


PARISH CALENDAR

August 3 Fiesta—Misa del Presidente, 10:00 AM in the Church (no 7:30 AM Mass Aug 3rd)
August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
August 11 Feast of St. Clare, Mass at 7:30 AM
August 11 Fr. Daniel Barica’s Installation Mass, 7:00 PM in the Church
August 15 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Masses at 7:30 AM and 12:00 Noon


DO YOU KNOW…
Whose House is This?

Q: Whose house is the church building—God’s or ours?

A: Yes! Both! Our church is God’s house because it is the house of the Body of Christ, the church. We cannot contain God. We cannot imprison God in some structure made of human hands. But when we who are made holy by Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist gather together, then God chooses to live here in this place, among us. When we who are God’s Church gather together, with our bishop (or his delegate, the priest) around our book (on its stand), at our font (and its water), and especially around the Lord’s altar (which is a dining table set in the shadow of the cross), God chooses to dwell here, too.

The God who wove the night time sky and buttoned it with stars, the God for whom the Rocky Mountains are naught but a bit of mud squished between divine toes, and for whom the oceans are but puddles—this God does not need a temple. But the people whom this God loves from before time began do need a place to gather, and to remember in sacred rites that the Church is made of flesh and blood before it is made of brick and board. Our Church building is that place! So it should be simply beautiful, and we should care lovingly for it. It isn’t any old meeting hall. It isn’t any old living room. It isn’t a museum or a classroom, either. It is a holy place, a holy land right here in our neighborhood where the body of Christ is joined, where the voice of Christ rings out, where the sacrifice of Christ is offered and shared.

It is good to show reverence in and to the church building. But reverence is not ignoring one’s neighbor as a distraction. Reverence is the wonder that we experience and the love that we show when we realize that each one of those here gathered around the Lord’s altar is a living stone that builds a spiritual house, and it is here that God truly lives among us.


BAPTIZED INTO NEW LIFE

Alberto & Vicente Molina
Sons of Joey and Joy Molina

Nadia Otterstetter
Daughter of Ronald and Mari Otterstetter

Tristan Becerra Santillan
Son of Aurora Santillan and Cecilia Becerra


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.


LET US PRAY FOR THE SICK

Joan Biasetti
Rose Margaret Braiden
Carmen Gonsalues
Mary Ann Jenquin
Neil Kelley
Anne Lano
Mia McCabe
Diane Parsons
Joyce Patterson

May they know Christ's healing.


RECYCLE SIGHT

Donate used and old eyeglasses to the Lions Sight and Hearing Center. For information, please call 569-8264.


MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

A Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend is a great way to get away from it all and focus on the one you love. For more information, call Russ & Jeanine at 648-4224, email info@wwme-la-north.org or visit www.wwme-la-north.org.


“DO NOT NEGLECT HOSPITALITY, FOR THROUGH IT, SOME HAVE UNKNOWINGLY ENTERTAINED ANGELS.” - Hebrews 13:2

If you are willing to help with our ministry of serving at Coffee Hour once every six weeks and/or be an occasional substitute server, please call Sharon Brownett at 682-7834 and leave a message.


ATTENTION EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS AND LECTORS

A new Ministry Schedule for the period August 1st-October 1st is now available. You may pick up a copy in the Sacristy, the Porter’s Office or the Parish Office. In addition, the schedule is posted on the Parish website (www.sbmission.org).


THANK YOU, ST. BARBARA PARISH!

“On behalf of the Catholic Campaign for Human Development (CCHD), the Office of Justice and Peace would like to thank you for your contribution. Your parish’s collection in November increased 239% over the prior year, from $612 to $2,078. CCHD is the domestic anti-poverty, social justice program of the US Catholic Bishops. With one out of six children living in poverty, there is an even greater need to provide CCHD funding to groups that address the causes of poverty in our community. We are committed to bringing together our parishioners and low-income empowered individuals from our funded groups to better work and walk together.”

Sincerely,
Joan B. Harper, CCHD Coordinator
Archdiocese of Los Angeles


SAY “HELLO” TO OUR NEWEST PARISHIONERS

Andrea Corrion
Tobias Schaedler


PREPARE FOR NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY

First Reading: Daniel 7:9-10, 13-14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97
Second Reading: 2 Peter 1:16-19
Gospel: Mark 9:2-10


REFLECTION ON NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
Transfiguration of the Lord

Jesus of Nazareth was a dreamer. He dared to dream impossible dreams. Jesus steadfastly believed that they could come true and invited others to an identical belief. For him, all things were possible. Jesus took Peter, James, and John with him on his dream journey. He led them up a high mountain, far from the maddening crowds of naysayers stuck in their mud of negativity. He led and they followed, leaving the hazy, valley atmosphere to enter the rarefied air of clarity. In that place, in that revealing moment where vision became sight and sight became vision, Jesus was transformed. Transfigured before them, he gave them permission to see what he saw; hear what he heard—and they were overwhelmed with joy, overcome with awe.

Life Focus

- When have you had an experience of seeing and hearing what others do not envision?
- When have you shared a vision with someone else?
- In what ways are you a dreamer like Daniel and Jesus?
- How have you helped make your dreams and those of others become realities?


THE FRANCISCAN MISSIONARY UNION

Today 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 receive contribution envelopes by mail, don’t forget to use your Franciscan Missionary Union envelope today. 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!


STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY

Sunday, July 23rd $9,061.00
National Needs Collection $1,353.00

Thank you for your continuing generosity!

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.


TRAVELING?
Don’t forget to go to Mass!

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


GETTING IN THE PARISH BULLETIN

For Parish announcements, call Laura in the Parish Office (682-4151). Please contact Mission Publishing at (888) 253-4358 for business ads.

SIXTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Jesus is the Good Shepherd who pities the crowd because they are like “sheep without a shepherd.” The “goodness” of the shepherd—and consequently the fidelity of disciples—is measured in meeting the needs of others. The surprise of the gospel, however, lies in how Jesus meets the crowd’s needs. We have ample evidence that Jesus forgives and heals and that often this is what the crowds seek—the good deeds the apostles report upon their return from missionary activity. These are the needs we would expect Jesus to meet. In this gospel selection, however, we have no account of forgiveness or healing. Rather, Jesus meets the crowd’s needs by “teaching them many things.” The compassion Jesus shows for his disciples in suggesting that they come away to a deserted place to rest is transferred to the “vast crowd” when he gives them what is lasting: divine teaching that leads to salvation. The ultimate gift of himself is to teach the crowd how they might find God in a way that lasts longer even than mighty deeds.

Would that all of us hunger for Jesus’ teaching as much as we desire our physical, spiritual, and emotional needs to be met! One way to assure that we are always able to hear and receive Jesus’ teaching is to depart, like the apostles, to a deserted place to rest. Part of living the rhythm of the paschal mystery is to discern when to care for others and when to care for ourselves. This is not always such an easy balance to achieve. So we look to the Good Shepherd to learn when to teach and do good deeds, and when to rest.

May we ever turn to the Good Shepherd and find rest when we are troubled or weary.

May we always be moved to compassion by those who are in need.


TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading—Jeremiah 23:1-6
I shall gather the remnant of my flock and bring them back to their meadow.

Responsorial Psalm—Psalm 23
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Second Reading—Ephesians 2:13-18
In Christ Jesus you who were once far off have become near by the blood of Christ.

Gospel—Mark 6:30-34
When Jesus saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, and he began to teach them many things.


THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WELCOMES YOU!

Are you thinking about becoming a Catholic? We would be happy to talk with you about the process. Please call the Parish Office to make an appointment.

If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church, know you are in our prayers. We invite you to call to explore your faith and your future with us.


DEAR PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS

Thank you for such a warm and welcoming reception last week at all of the Masses. I was extremely touched by the way you greeted me. I do feel like I am coming home, since I have spent so much of my friar life here: novitiate in 1992-93; first assignment after seminary in 1998; and finally diaconate ordination (1998) and presbyteral ordination (1999). I can’t believe it has been five years (to the weekend!) since I was asked to move to St. Francis of Assisi parish in Los Angeles. How quickly the time passes!

And so now, we begin a new chapter in the life of the parish. I am happy to lead us on that journey, yet must confess that the role of a shepherd is quite challenging. Top on the list is that most people don’t like being compared to sheep. There are some things that sheep do, however, that are worth emulating. First and foremost is that sheep can be really focused. Okay, so maybe the focus is on munching grass, but the good part about it is that they don’t take their eyes off of their food. If we did the same in terms of our food being the Eucharist, we would be in very good shape!

Jesus asks his apostles, as well as each of us, to come away for a while and rest. Even though it is the middle of summer, our lives can still be very busy – I know mine is! I will be away at two pastoral workshops beginning this weekend. Yet an excellent way of finding the kind of rest Jesus wants for us is to focus our eyes on him. Let us be like sheep and gaze at what is our true and only lasting food. Our Blessed Sacrament chapel is open all day, providing a suitable place to quiet ourselves and rest in the Lord. We can offer this time, not only for our own peace but for peace in a world continually erupting in violence.

Our God is keenly aware of the restlessness and hunger for healing in our souls and is moved with pity for us. Let us all find time to be still and focus our gaze upon him who loves us unconditionally.

Yours in the love of Christ Jesus, the Good Shepherd,
Fr. Daniel Barica, O.F.M., Pastor

PARISH CALENDAR

July 29-30 Franciscan Missionary Union Special Collection
August 3 Fiesta—Misa del Presidente, 10:30 AM in the Church
August 6 Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
August 11 Feast of St. Clare, Mass at 7:30 AM
August 15 Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Masses at 7:30 AM and 12:00 Noon

DO YOU KNOW…
Are We Ready for This Prayer?

Yes, I will lift up my heart. And I will give God thanks and praise. I’ll stay awake. I’ll listen to every word. I’ll sing every acclamation and Amen. Thus I will put energy into praying the eucharistic prayer at Mass on Sunday. I’ll bring to it every bit of life. I’ll remember everything, especially the hard stuff (after all, at the center of this prayer is a body to be broken for us, a covenant made in the blood of Christ).

I will be so attentive that when we’ve finished the eucharistic prayer with a room-shaking Amen, I’ll know just how right and good it is to pray the Our Father together, greet one another with Christ’s peace, then enter a procession (not a line up, a procession) that is singing its way to the table of the Lord.

And I’ll come hungry. By some kind of fasting—from food, from entertainment, from distractions, from anger—I’ll come on Sunday knowing in body and soul how hungry I am to hear God’s word and hungry to give God thanks and praise and hungry to feast on the body of Christ given for us, the blood of Christ poured out for us.

And I’ll never again think that I can do any of this alone. How could I? It is not I who give God thanks and praise, it is the body of Christ that makes this eucharistic praying. All the baptized people in this room put their lives into this prayer that the ordained priest proclaims. And it goes beyond the room. That’s why we remember the church all over the world in our prayers for the bishop and the pope, the living and dead.

Am I ready for this prayer? Are we?

FROM DEATH TO THE FULLNESS OF LIFE

JOHN BASCOMBE
Father of Parishioner Terry Bascombe

May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace

LET US PRAY FOR THE SICK

Joan Biasetti
Carmen Gonsalues
Mary Ann Jenquin
Neil Kelley
Anne Lano
Mia McCabe
Diane Parsons
Joyce Patterson

May they know Christ's healing.

ALWAYS OUR CHILDREN

The Catholic Support Group for Parents of Gay and Lesbian Children meets on the 4th Monday of every other month. Their next meeting will be on Monday, July 24th at 7:30 PM. They offer a safe and comfortable environment where you can share your feelings and fears, and ask questions. The meetings are informal and confidential. For more infor mation, please call Kathie and Joe Schneider at (805) 687-4338.

“COME TO ME…I WILL GIVE YOU REST”

A Retreat for Widowed and Divorced Women
August 4-6, 2006

This weekend will include conferences, the opportunity for spiritual direction and/or counseling from qualified Catholic professionals, as well as time for private prayer and reflection. Holy Mass and the Sacrament of Reconciliation will be offered each day. For more information or to make a reservation, please contact:

Sacred Heart Retreat House
920 E. Alhambra Road · Alhambra, CA
(626) 289-1353 ext. 200

ATTENTION EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS & LECTORS

A new Ministry Schedule for the period August 1st-October 1st is now available. You may pick up a copy in the Sacristy, the Porter’s Office or the Parish Office. In addition, the schedule is posted on the Parish website (www.sbmission.org).

SACRAMENT OF MATRIMONY

Jonathan Miller & Jennifer Foley

PREPARE FOR NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY

First Reading: 2 Kings 4:42-44
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145
Second Reading: Ephesians 4:1-6
Gospel: John 6:1-15

REFLECTION ON NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Both the first reading and the gospel next week tell stories of God feeding hungry people through the words and works of prophets. For the next five Sundays, we will hear the Bread of Life teaching from John’s gospel. For John, all of Jesus’ acts are “signs” —sacraments—that point to a deeper reality. It is clear that the people do not appreciate the deeper meaning of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves. The reaction of the crowd showed that they thought wrongly that Jesus was the triumphant and political Messiah. So Jesus goes “back to the mountains alone.” The people had indeed misread the sign.

Life Focus

- Relate a time when you were so engrossed in something important that you forgot to eat.
- Describe a time when you were surprised that your limited resources were sufficient.
- Relate a time when your prayers were answered on God’s terms rather than on your own.

THE FRANCISCAN MISSIONARY UNION

Next 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 receive contribution envelopes by mail, don’t forget to use your Franciscan Missionary Union envelope today. 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!

STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY

Sunday, July 16th $9,366.00
Thank you for your continuing generosity!

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.

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 by supporting 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’s appeal is
$56,042 of which $49,044 has been collected...
...we are only $6,998 short of our goal!

If you have not yet made a donation or pledge to Together In Mission, please prayerfully consider doing so. Pledge cards are available on the table in the back of the church.

CONSIDERING 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.

GETTING IN THE PARISH BULLETIN

For Parish announcements, call Laura in the Parish Office (682-4151). Please contact Mission Publishing at (888) 253-4358 for business ads.

TRAVELING?
Don’t forget to go to Mass!

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

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

Jesus did not keep what authority he had to himself but “summoned the Twelve and began to send them out.” For the kind of journey on which Jesus sends his disciples, “no food, no sack, no money” are needed. What is needed, Jesus gives them: his authority and his teaching. Everything depends on Jesus—the call, the sending, and what is needed to carry on the mission. The Twelve did not preach and do mighty deeds for their own self-promotion, but only as witnesses to Jesus and his authority. Jesus instructed them to “take nothing,” suggesting that the most important matter is the urgency of the mission, the clarity and truth of the message, and that nothing is needed except the authority given. The Twelve did what Jesus did: preached, drove out demons, healed.

The mission of Jesus continues through the work of his disciples: what Jesus did, they do; how Jesus was received, they are received. Like Jesus, disciples meet both success and rejection. If we only look to ourselves we could be paralyzed by discouragement. But we do not act on our own; we act in Jesus’ name and on his authority. Everything that happened to Jesus is happening in us—we are given the authority to witness to the good news of the coming of God’s kingdom and in our witness we meet both acceptance and rejection. Our success is not measured by our acceptance/rejection ratio, but by the integrity of our words and deeds. Our authority is most fruitful when it is borne out by living as Jesus lived. Disciples of Jesus strip themselves of everything except the one thing that counts most—witnesses to the Good News of God’s reign.

May we always use the authority conferred by Jesus to preach the Good News, overcome evil, and heal.

May we always be faithful in preaching and living the Good news of God’s reign.

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading—Amos 7:12-15
Amos said, “The Lord took me from following the flock, and said to me, Go, prophesy to my people.”

Responsorial Psalm—Psalm 85
Lord, let us see your kindness, and grant us your salvation.

Second Reading—Ephesians 1:3-14
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing.

Gospel—Mark 6:7-13
Jesus summoned the Twelve and began to send them out two by two.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WELCOMES YOU!

Are you thinking about becoming a Catholic? We would be happy to talk with you about the process. Please call the Parish Office to make an appointment.

If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church, know you are in our prayers. We invite you to call to explore your faith and your future with us.

DEAR PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS,

We are thrilled to welcome Fr. Daniel Barica as our new pastor! Fr. Daniel will be here this weekend, but then must leave us to fulfill commitments he made prior to being assigned here. He will return and stay put on August 5th!

Welcome, Fr. Daniel! We look forward to your vision and leadership of the parish.

I wish to call your attention to the “Do You Know?” column in today’s bulletin, which is a statement by Bishop Oscar Solis of the Archdiocesan Justice for Immigrants Steering Committee. Bishop Solis urges us to take action toward just and humane immigration reform in the following ways:

· Mobilize our community to call our legislators to get back to the table to create an immigration reform bill that will not only secure our borders, but also provide our immigrant brothers and sisters with a just system that treats them with the human dignity we all deserve as God’s children.

· Send daily emails to our legislators so that they may hear the voice of our people calling them to pass a just and humane comprehensive immigration reform bill this year.

· Pray and offer days of fasting for our immigrant brothers, sisters, government leaders, our nation and for our Church, that we may learn to put into action God’s call to love, especially the poor and the needy.

The Justice for Immigrants Steering Committee will continually update us on the status of the immigration debate and provide us further information on how we can take action. We are also encouraged to visit the US Conference of Catholic Bishops’ website at www.justiceforimmigrants.org for more information on the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform.

Summer blessings!
Love, Pat

PARISH CALENDAR

July 18 Baptism Class at 6:30 PM
July 23 Baptisms at the 9:00 AM Mass
July 22-23 National Needs Collection

DO YOU KNOW…
Call to Action for Just and Humane Immigration Reform

Despite promises of bi-partisan efforts to take up the issue of humane immigration reform quickly after the Senate passed Bill S2611, the process is now stalled. It is likely that no action will be taken before the November elections, and possibly no action this congressional year. That is not acceptable when millions of our immigrant brothers and sisters continue to suffer because of a broken immigration system.

While Senate Bill 2611 is not perfect, it is a step in the right direction and a far cry from the inhumane HR4437 that criminalizes immigrants and those that support them. S2611 incorporates many of the elements endorsed by the US Bishops, including a path to citizenship for the undocumented, a temporary worker program for future flows of workers, and reductions in waiting times for family reunification.

As Cardinal Roger Mahony has stated, in solidarity with our US bishops, the Catholic Church is actively involved in the immigration debate because “it is our gospel mandate to ‘welcome the stranger.’”

“In the Gospel of Matthew, Christ teaches us that ‘salvation is gained by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and welcoming the stranger;’ for ‘what you have done to the least of my brothers, you have done unto me.’ He teaches us in the parable of the Good Samaritan that we must help all of our fellow human beings, even though they may be different from us in many respects.”

“While the immigration debate to date focuses on the economic, legal, and social/cultural aspects of the issue, it is ultimately a humanitarian, and moral, issue.”

“It is therefore incumbent upon our elected officials, including Catholics, to carefully scrutinize these laws so as to serve basic human dignity and protect human life. Laws and policies which infringe upon dignity and harm human life are wrong and, as a moral matter, should be rebuffed or repealed.”

FROM DEATH TO THE FULLNESS OF LIFE

Robert Chavez
Nell Crews

May their souls and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

MINISTRY TO THE HOMEBOUND

If someone you know is not able to come to Mass, or would like a minister to take Communion to their home, please call the Parish Office to make arrangements. Also, with the permission of the person who is ill, we are happy to include their name in the Prayer of the Faithful and list it in the bulletin.

LET US PRAY FOR THE SICK

Joan Biasetti
Carmen Gonsalues
Mary Ann Jenquin
Neil Kelley
Anne Lano
Mia McCabe
Diane Parsons
Joyce Patterson

May they know Christ's healing.

MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is a great way to get away from it all and focus on the one you love. You deserve a Marriage Encounter Weekend! The next weekend is July 21-23. For more information, call Russ & Jeanine at 648-4244, email info@wwme-la-north.org or visit their website at www.wwme-la-north.org.

SAY “HELLO” TO OUR NEWEST PARISHIONERS

Dennis Keane
Reyes Family
Kathryn Slampak

TENOR CHORAL POSITION AVAILABLE

Auditions are being held for a Tenor Choral Scholar. Qualified applicants should possess strong musical skills, vocal training, and be available for weekly rehearsals, Sunday Masses and major feast and holy days. For more information and to schedule an audition, please contact Roy Spicer, Director of Music, 682-4713 ext 144.

FAIR TRADE FESTIVAL

Get ready for a Fair Trade Festival on Sunday, August 13th, from 9:00 AM until 2:00 PM at St. Francis of Assisi in Echo Park (at Golden Gate and Sunset). The festival will include the screening of a video from Bread for the World, a letter-writing campaign to members of Congress, and an opportunity to sample and purchase Fair Trade products. More details to come … but save the date in your calendar for now!

“THEOLOGY ON TAP”

Come join us for this four-week speaker and conversation series that gives you an opportunity to gather with other young adults (single or couple in your 20s or 30s). Contemplate new ways of seeing God in your life and quench your spiritual thirst in a relaxing and fun environment. Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM— July 16, July 23, July 30 and August 6— at St. Jude the Apostle Church in Westlake Village.

For more information, please call Cindy Lambrix at (805) 577-8315 or Nicole Casanova at (805) 338-2520.

ALWAYS OUR CHILDREN

The Catholic Support Group for Parents of Gay and Lesbian Children meets on the 4th Monday of every other month. Their next meeting will be on Monday, July 24th at 7:30 PM. They offer a safe and comfortable environment where you can share your feelings and fears, and ask questions. The meetings are informal and confidential. For more infor mation, please call Kathie and Joe Schneider at (805) 687-4338.

NATIONAL NEEDS COLLECTION
“Sharing the Good News”
Collection Dates: July 22 & 23

Each year, your support of the National Needs Combined Collection makes it possible for the Catholic Communication Campaign to:

· continue its television, radio and print media ministry;

· provide aid to some of the neediest African American and Native American communities through the vital evangelization programs of the Black and Indian Home Mission;

· ensure the highest standards of quality Catholic education through The Catholic University of America’s exceptional programs of scholarship, research and service;

· strengthen the Church at home;

· help provide basic pastoral resources and services to needy ethnic communities in scattered and isolated areas through the Catholic Home Missions Appeal.

Envelopes will be made available in the pews next weekend. Thank you in advance for your generosity.

STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY

Sunday, July 9th $9,149.50

Thank you for your continuing generosity!

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.

PREPARE FOR NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY

First Reading: Jeremiah 23:1-6
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23
Second Reading: Ephesians 2:13-18
Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

REFLECTION ON NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
Sixteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Jesus looks at the crowd with great feeling. They have no one to feed them with the teaching that will give them life or with the physical food to stay alive. Jesus appreciates how vulnerable people are and how fragile their lives are. Like sheep, they will die without a shepherd to keep them together, show them the way and feed them. Seeing their need, Jesus himself begins to teach. He becomes shepherd to the leaderless flock. Jesus calls his disciples to be the kind of shepherd he is. The disciples, of course, will not understand this kind of leadership until after the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Life Focus

- When have you felt let down or disappointed by someone you looked to for leadership, guidance or direction?

- Where is the “out-of-the-way place” that gives you peace? Why do you feel this way about this place?

- When in your life have you felt like a sheep without a shepherd, in need of spiritual and/or physical care? Where or from whom did you seek care?

TRAVELING? DON’T FORGET TO GO TO MASS!

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

GETTING IN THE PARISH BULLETIN

For Parish announcements, call Laura in the Parish Office (682-4151). Please contact Mission Publishing at (888) 253-4358 for business ads.

FOURTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

“Where did this man get all this?” “What kind of wisdom has been given him?” Some who heard Jesus could not get beyond the familiar details such as his occupation and his relatives to believe that he was more than this. Their questions reveal that they still did not understand who Jesus was, still were not able to accept him as someone from God. They saw but they didn’t believe. The challenge of today’s gospel is to look beyond our own knowledge of others preconditioned by what we think we know about them and listen to them, allow them to teach us about God and how to be faith-filled disciples. God does not very often visit us in the unusual and spectacular, hitting us over the head so that we don’t miss God’s message of salvation. Most often God visits us in the ordinary circumstances of our own lives through the ordinary people we meet who are faithful as Jesus was to their own mission to make known the gospel.

If we take seriously our own commitment to live religious values and a life of faith, there will be times when we ourselves are faced with misunderstanding, rejection and ridicule. Indeed, the extent of resistance may be the measure of our commitment. Rather than look for extraordinary opportunities, our faith commitment is best lived out in the simple, everyday opportunities to be faithful that come our way. By surrendering to these everyday dyings to self, we live a life of faith and rise to God’s saving new life.

May we always be faithful in preaching God’s word and steadfast in Jesus’ mission.

May we heed God’s prophets among us.


TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading—Ezekiel 2:2-5
They shall know that a prophet has been among them.

Responsorial Psalm—Psalm 123
Our eyes are fixed on the Lord, pleading for his mercy.

Second Reading—2 Corinthians 12:7-10
I am content with weaknesses and hardships for the sake of Christ.

Gospel—Mark 6:1-6
The people said: “Where did this man get all this? Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary?”


THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WELCOMES YOU!

Are you thinking about becoming a Catholic? We would be happy to talk with you about the process. Please call the Parish Office to make an appointment.

If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church, know you are in our prayers. We invite you to call to explore your faith and your future with us.



DEAR PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS,

This past week we celebrated the birth of our nation and the fact that we, as individuals in this nation, enjoy the God-given rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. For this we give thanks and praise to God.

Not all people are so blessed. As Christians, it is essential that we involve ourselves in helping those in the world who need our help. Catholic Relief Services calls our attention to the situation in Darfur where, in the past three years, more than 400,000 people have died and another 2.5 million have been displaced. Open warfare in Darfur erupted in early 2003 when two loosely allied rebel groups attacked military installations. In response, “Janjaweed” militias received government support to clear civilians from areas considered disloyal to the Sudanese government. Now, three years into the crisis, Darfur is considered to be a humanitarian and human rights tragedy of the first order. Witnesses displaced by the current conflict tell stories of the government-backed militias storming into villages, killing men and boys, raping women and burning, pillaging and destroying whatever is left. People repeatedly describe women being beaten or raped when venturing outside camps to search for basic necessities such as water. The humanitarian, security and political situation continue to deteriorate. Atrocities continue. People are still dying in large numbers of malnutrition and disease, and a new famine is feared.

Catholic Relief Services is doing all it can to help. They have distributed hygiene and shelter materials. CRS constructed 50 pit latrines and is building wells and pumps that will provide access to clean water. CRS also works with other organizations distributing food. Because people have missed the harvest season for two straight years, there is a growing dependence on food aid. In addition, CRS is providing psychosocial support for children who are dealing with grief and trauma. In the United States and international political arenas, CRS provides testimony, builds awareness and shares its field expertise to encourage government leaders to more fully address the crisis in Darfur.

I urge you to contact Catholic Relief Services at www.crs.org or 877-HELP-CRS (435-7277) to see how you can contribute to the relief efforts.

Love,
Pat


PARISH CALENDAR



DO YOU KNOW…Immigration Reform

U.S. bishops continue to press Congress to legislate comprehensive and humane immigration reform. “We urge congressional leaders and the president to seize this historic moment and enact a just and humane immigration measure,” said Bishop R. Barnes of San Bernardino.

Congressional conferees need to resolve differences between a Senate bill passed in May that includes many comprehensive reform provisions and a House bill passed in December that focuses only on the enforcement of immigration laws and criminalizes undocumented immigrants and those who assist them.

Bishop Barnes, chairman of the U.S. Bishops’ Committee on Migration, observed that the $25 billion spent on border enforcement in the last dozen years has resulted in double the number of undocumented immigrants and the deaths of some 3,000 in the desert. “It is clear that an enforcement-only approach to immigration reform has failed,” said the bishop, urging the Senate and House to produce a bill that would address reform comprehensively.

“The problem is not at the border. It’s in the labor market,” said Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio of Brooklyn, NY, chairman of the Catholic Legal Immigration Network. “We must have a secure labor market. Then we can have a secure border.” “Temporary worker programs and an earned path to citizenship would enable the government to regulate the flow of workers to meet the demand from employers,” he said.

The current immigration system, added Cardinal Mahony, “is morally unacceptable, because it accepts the labor and taxes of immigrants without offering them protections.” Now immigrants are being used as scapegoats for the nation’s problems, he said. Laws and policies, added the Cardinal, must “serve basic human dignity and protect human life.”

Bishop Gerald F. Kicanas of Tucson, AZ, a member of the USCCB Committee on Migration, noted that the Catholic Church was joined by other faith traditions in a strong ecumenical effort to “articulate a moral position about a complex issue.”


MINISTRY TO THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND

If someone you know is not able to come to Mass, or would like a minister to take Communion to their home, please call the Parish Office to make arrangements. Also, with the permission of the person who is ill, we are happy to include their name in the Prayer of the Faithful and list it in the bulletin.



LET US PRAY FOR THE SICK

Joan Biasetti
Carmen Gonsalues
Mary Ann Jenquin
Anne Lano
Mia McCabe
Diane Parsons
Joyce Patterson

May they know Christ's healing.


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 “The Edge” (previously called “Tobiah Club”) meets at St. Raphael’s on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 7:00 to 8:45 PM. For information, please contact John Vasellina, St. Raphael Parish Youth Minister, at 964-3466, ext. 1.



SAY “HELLO” TO OUR NEWEST PARISHIONERS

Gregory, Anne, Clay, Clark & Peter Greaney
Javier Isais-Chavez
Buil Kang
Tracy Palmer


THANK YOU, SAINT BARBARA PARISH

“I am writing to you on behalf of everyone at the Community Kitchen of Santa Barbara to thank all of your parishioners for their generous support of our Lent Box campaign. Each donation we receive helps purchase food or supplies. In the coming year we will be serving over 145,000 meals to the hungry of Santa Barbara, seven days a week, 365 days a year.

We thank you again for your generous support and belief in our work.”

Yours sincerely,
Erik Talkin
Executive Director
Community Kitchen


SOPRANO AND TENOR CHORAL POSITIONS AVAILABLE

The Music Ministry of St. Barbara Parish is currently seeking experienced singers for paid choral positions. Auditions are being held for Soprano and Tenor Choral Scholars. Qualified applicants should possess strong musical skills, vocal training, and be available for weekly rehearsals, Sunday Masses and major feast and holy days. For more information and to schedule an audition, please contact Roy Spicer, Director of Music, 682-4713 ext 144.



CALLING ALL MARRIED COUPLES

The Office of Family Life’s Marriage Preparation Program is looking for married couples (married in the Catholic Church) to help engaged couples prepare for the Sacrament of Matrimony through their One Day Marriage Preparation Classes. If you are interested, please call Candy Metoyer at (213) 637-7250.



THE SOCIETY OF ST. VINCENT DE PAUL

We meet on the first and third Wednesdays of each month at 9:30 AM. Our mission is to help and to serve the poor. Please call 687-7547 for more information.



MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER

A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend is a great way to get away from it all and focus on the one you love. You deserve a Marriage Encounter Weekend! The next weekend is July 21-23. For more information, call Russ & Jeanine at 648-4244, email info@wwme-la-north.org or visit their website at www.wwme-la-north.org.



FR. VIRGIL’S BOOK IS BACK

Fr. Virgil’s book ,“Padre: The Spiritual Journey of Fr. Virgil Cordano,” is once again available for purchase in the Mission Gift Shop.


STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY

Sunday, July 2nd $11,208.00
Peter’s Pence Collection $1,937.00

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 by supporting 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’s appeal is
$56,042 of which $44,836 has been collected...
...we are still $11,206 short of our goal!

If you have not yet made a donation or pledge to Together In Mission, please prayerfully consider doing so. Pledge cards are available on the table in the back of the church.



PREPARE FOR NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY

First Reading: Amos 7:12-15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85
Second Reading: Ephesians 1:3-14
Gospel: Mark 6:7-13


REFLECTION ON NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The Twelve are sent to towns of Galilee. It is a trial mission that looks ahead to the Christian mission to the world at large. All Christians are to speak for God in the world, even when the world does not care to listen. Jesus shares with the Twelve his powers over the forces of evil. Jesus says to get moving on this mission right away. The Twelve are to travel light. If they are offered hospitality, they should accept it. If not, they are to shake the dust from their feet, which is what pious Jews did when they returned from unholy territory. Jesus did not tell the Twelve to preach about God’s reign. That task belonged to Jesus. They were to be much like John the Baptizer preparing for Jesus’ mission. They were happy with their success.

Life Focus

- Describe a time in your life when you were genuinely lacking resources, but the task got done in spite of your poverty.
- Share a time when you were able to let go of the disappointment of your failures and get on with your life.
- Relate a time in your life when your attitude shifted from “No way, I can’t do it” to “I certainly can.” What caused the shift?


TRAVELING? DON’T FORGET TO GO TO MASS!

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



GETTING IN THE PARISH BULLETIN

For Parish announcements, call Laura in the Parish Office (682-4151). Please contact Mission Publishing at (888) 253-4358 for business ads.

THIRTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

The gospel’s healing stories reveal Jesus to be the Lord of life. Death, debilitating illness, chronic medical conditions shatter the illusion of our control over life. The tenuousness of life turns us to the Lord of life. To encounter Jesus’ power over life, we have only to acknowledge, as do Jairus and the bleeding woman, this tenuous hold we have on life. Such acknowledgment is an act of faith. And such faith leads to salvation.

Like Jairus and the woman with the hemorrhage, all we need do to overcome the harsh reality of death and our fear of it is to reach out and touch the nearness of Jesus. Death, however, not only means the cessation of physical life but also all those everyday “dyings to self” that call us to surrender our will to God’s will. In the Christian mystery, death is the doorway to life. Just as Jairus and the woman forgot their own stations in life and overcame their fears in order to receive life from Jesus, so must we surrender our own wills in order to encounter Jesus and receive life. God’s reign of life is not established by avoiding death, but by embracing it. Living the Paschal Mystery is none other than our daily dying to self—overcoming our fears and reaching out to Jesus in humility—in all the little, practical ways that fill our daily routines. Paschal Mystery dying is as simple as smiling at the children even when we’re bone tired or taking an hour out of our day to visit the sick. When we surrender in humility to God’s goodness and power, Jesus offers us life, and in this we encounter the Lord of life.

May we always proclaim in faith that Jesus is the Lord of life.

May we always work to preserve life in all its forms.


TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading—Wisdom 1:13-15; 2:23-24
God did not make death, nor does God rejoice in the destruction of the living.

Responsorial Psalm—Psalm 30
I will praise you, Lord for you have rescued me.

Second Reading—2 Corinthians 8:7, 9, 13-15
Your abundance should supply the needs of others.

Gospel—Mark 5:21-43
Your faith has saved you.

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH WELCOMES YOU!

Are you thinking about becoming a Catholic? We would be happy to talk with you about the process. Please call the Parish Office to make an appointment.

If you are a Catholic who has been away from the Church, know you are in our prayers. We invite you to call to explore your faith and your future with us.


DEAR PARISHIONERS AND VISITORS,

This weekend we take up the annual Peter’s Pence collection for the charitable works of the Holy Father. You contribution allows the Holy Father to respond with timely and effective assistance to the most disadvantaged people throughout the world—those who suffer as a result of war, oppression, and natural disasters. As we participate in this special appeal, we join with more than one billion Catholics worldwide in a loving expression of solidarity. We participate in works of goodness that distinguish us as followers of the Gospel. Please be as generous as you can.

During the summer, the Archdiocese Office of Ministry with Young Adults offers an interactive four-week “Theology-On-Tap” series that endeavors to take God out of the confines of a church building and into the daily lives of young adults in a relaxed and fun environment.

The Santa Barbara regional gatherings will take place on Sunday afternoons at 3:00 PM at St. Jude the Apostle Catholic Church Parish Hall in Westlake Village (32032 West Lindero Canyon Road). The topics include: “The da Vinci Code” (July 16th), “Finding Christ in the Chronicles of Narnia” (July 23rd), “Ask Not What Your Parish Can Do For You, But Ask What You Can Do For Your Parish” (July 30th), “Mary and the Saints: Idolatry or Something Else” (August 6th). For further information, please call the Young Adult Ministry Office, (213) 637-7652 or (213) 637-7354.

As we observe our nation’s birth this week, let us thank God for the many blessings we have been given, and pray that our land may be a harbor of peace and unity for all people, races, faiths and cultures.

Love,
Pat


PARISH CALENDAR

Today Peter’s Pence Collection
July 4 Independence Day
July 15 Fr. Daniel Barica arrives
July 18 Baptism Class at 6:30 PM
July 23 Baptisms at the 9:00 AM Mass

BAPTIZED INTO NEW LIFE

Madelyne Patricia Herbert
Daughter of William and Alissa Herbert

Daniel John Lorenz
Son of John and Cameron Lorenz

DO YOU KNOW…The Eucharistic Prayer

The First Eucharistic Prayer is lengthy and ponderous. Its repetitive structure so differs from the other prayers that it can be hard to follow. Yet throughout our history as a church, the Roman rite has used no other Eucharistic prayer more frequently. Inspired by St. Ambrose in the fourth century, it became the only Eucharistic prayer permissible in the Roman liturgy until the Second Vatican Council. Having no preface of its own, it accepted one chosen for the feast, season, or occasion. The rest of the prayer remained unchanged since about the seventh century and assumed the title "canon" because it was the only one.

Now because we have so many Eucharistic prayers, it is less accurate to call any of them a "canon."

The prayer balances across the account of the Last Supper. We pray for the living in the first half, for the dead in the second. We ask intercession from some saints in the first half, and from others in the second. The prayer never included an explicit appeal to the Holy Spirit, which caused some controversy among the Eastern rites noted for their devotion to the third person of the Trinity. Consequently, every single Eucharistic prayer approved since Vatican II includes an explicit "epiclesis”— a request for the Holy Spirit to change the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ.

Although fixed in form, Prayer I offers internal options. The prefaces change. The lists of the saints may be abbreviated. Many subsections conclude with an optional formula: "Through Christ our Lord. Amen." Prayer I also permits a special acknowledgment of some feasts such as Christmas, Holy Thursday, and Easter. Before Vatican II, Pope John XXIII authorized one last change to the Roman canon: He included Joseph among the list of saints. A few years after the council, the memorial acclamation was added as well. Eucharistic Prayer I is admittedly hard to follow, but its endurance gives testimony to the timelessness of the Catholic faith.

FROM DEATH TO THE FULLNESS OF LIFE

HARRIS HUEY, parishioner

May his soul and all the souls of the faithful departed rest in peace.

LET US PRAY FOR THE SICK

Joan Biasetti
Mary Ann Jenquin
Anne Lano
Mia McCabe
Diane Parsons
Joyce Patterson

May they know Christ's healing.

MINISTRY TO THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND

If someone you know is not able to come to Mass, or would like a minister to take Communion to their home, please call the Parish Office to make arrangements. Also, with the permission of the person who is ill, we are happy to include their name in the Prayer of the Faithful and list it in the bulletin.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES

Catholic Charities Psychological Services offers individual, marriage and family counseling in English and Spanish by licensed therapists. There is a sliding scale fee based on income. For more information, please call all (805) 965-7045 x102 for English; Spanish speakers or bilingual call 965-7045 x114.

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 “The Edge” (previously called “Tobiah Club”) meets at St. Raphael’s on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of each month from 7:00 to 8:45 PM. For information, please contact St. Raphael Parish Youth Minister, John Vasellina at 964-3466, ext. 1.

SAY “HELLO” TO OUR NEWEST PARISHIONER
Jan McShane

THANK YOU, ST. BARBARA PARISH!

“We gratefully acknowledge the very generous donation of $1,432.25 from your March 19, 2006, St. Joseph’s table dinner and bake sale! What a blessing it was to receive this donation from St. Barbara Parish. Thank you all for sponsoring this wonderful event! … With the continuing support of our many dedicated friends, we can continue to provide a warm family environment, prenatal care, and counseling for the pregnant women who turn to us for help.”

June M. Guadagno
Executive Director
Villa Majella of Santa Barbara

PETER’S PENCE COLLECTION

“Anyone who has discovered Christ must lead others to him.”

Today our parish will participate in the Peter’s Pence Collection, in support of the works of the Holy Father. The proceeds from this collection fund emergency relief assistance to those throughout the world who suffer from war, oppression and natural disasters. The theme for this year’s collection is “Anyone who has discovered Christ must lead others to him.” Through works of charity, Catholics provide a powerful witness of love and deeds to empower the weak, the defenseless, and the voiceless, and to sustain those who suffer. Please pray for the Holy Father and give generously to this special appeal.

STEWARDSHIP MINISTRY

Sunday, June 25th $8,912.00
Thank you for your continuing generosity!

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.

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 by supporting 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’s appeal is
$56,042 of which $44,836 has been collected...
...we are still $11,206 short of our goal!

If you have not yet made a donation or pledge to Together In Mission, please prayerfully consider doing so. Pledge cards are available on the table in the back of the church.

HOLIDAY CLOSURE

The Parish Offices will be closed on Monday and Tuesday, July 3rd and 4th. This closure will not have any effect on the 7:30 AM Daily Mass. We hope you have a wonderful holiday!

PREPARE FOR NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY

First Reading: Ezekiel 2:2-5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 123
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 12:7-10
Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

REFLECTION ON NEXT SUNDAY’S LITURGY OF THE WORD
Fourteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Next weekend’s readings give us courage even though they speak of failure and rejection because people resist God’s word. Jesus’ own family, friends and townspeople turn him off. Jesus returns home. A crowd comes to the synagogue to hear him speak. Jesus appears ordinary, like one of them. But his words are amazing. His own kinspeople and townspeople do not have the faith of his followers. They do not see God’s Spirit at work. Jesus, like Ezekiel and Paul, is distressed by the response of those he has sent to save. But their rejection does not stop his mission. Jesus cures the sick and moves on to teach others.

Life Focus

- When have you felt hurt when trying to do something good for another?
- Relate an experience in your life when you were acknowledged by another person.
- What prevents you from believing in the goodness of others—sometimes in your own relatives and friends?
- What keeps you going when you don’t feel support?

GETTING IN THE PARISH BULLETIN

For Parish announcements, call Laura in the Parish Office (682-4151). Please contact Mission Publishing at (888) 253-4358 for business ads.

TRAVELING? DON’T FORGET TO GO TO MASS!

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