AUGUST 9, 2020

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Dear Friends,

I am amazed at how many times in the Gospels Jesus takes time away from the crowds – and even the apostles – to spend time in prayer and reflection. That’s a good mes-sage for us today and always. Our lives can become so hectic,

filled with worries and concerns over health, finances, relationships, and a million other things. Sometimes we remember to bring these to the Lord in our prayers. Oftentimes these concerns take over and we forget about the Lord and His great love for us all.

In these days of a pandemic, where our worries are sometimes even worse than ever, we need to take time away from it all, sit quietly alone with Jesus, and turn our troubles over to Him. Let Jesus hear the con-cerns we carry and let Him support and carry us. Let us pray for the grace of the Holy Spirit to give us strength to face the challenges and crosses we must bear, allowing us to know in the depths of our being that we are never alone.

May we find those special moments to “get away from it all” and spend time with the Lord.

Have a blessed week. Father Fred

THE PRESENCE OF GOD After the miracle of Jesus walking on water, the disci-ples exclaimed, “Truly, you are the Son of God” (Matthew 14:33). Most Christians will probably never experience such a dramatic miracle. Like Elijah, we await the manifestation of God in other moments. Perhaps the biggest challenge for the believer is to be constantly attuned to the possible presence of God in the everyday events of life. This is a stance that takes some people years to develop. Others seem to find the Lord easily in the simple things. As the week unfolds, let us look for the presence of God in the little things around us. Perhaps, like Elijah, we will be surprised at what we find. And, like the disci-ples, we can add our voice to the confession, “Truly you are the Son of God.” Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Registration will begin on August 15. We will let you know when our information is on the website. Most of us are working from home, so email or response to Flocknote is the best way to communicate. Our phones will soon forward to our email addresses like they did in the past. Hopefully, that will happen this week. Thanks for your patience and understanding.

Faith Formation and Youth Ministry are gearing up for beginning our year virtually. We are hoping to keep our parents and young folks interested and engaged in learning about their faith in a fun and active way even from home. Yes, parents, we are including you in our program, especially for the young ones. If you have a school-age child or teen, keep an eye out for Flocknotes regarding registration and plans for the 2020-2021 Faith Formation year.

We are aware that we still have not had all our 2019-2020 students receive their first communion. That will be the top priority when we can assemble for Mass again as a community or even with only family. Please continue to pray that this disease will get under control.

Monday: 2 Cor 9:6-10; Ps 112:1-2, 5-9; Jn 12:24-26 Tuesday: Ez 2:8 — 3:4; Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 Wednesday: Ez 9:1-7; 10:18-22; Ps 113:1-6; Mt 18:15-20 Thursday: Ez 12:1-12; Ps 78:56-59, 61-62: Mt 18:21 — 19:1 Friday: Ez 16:1-15, 60, 63 [59-63]; Is 12:2-3, 4bcd-6; Mt 19:3-12 Saturday: Rv 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Ps 45:10-12, 16; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lk 1:39-56 Sunday: Is 56:1, 6-7; Ps 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8; Rom 11:13-15, 29-32; Mt 15:21-28

Faith Formation

08/09 For the People of St. Mary

Bill Gorencic

George Rodriguez, Sr.

Angeles Ron (L)

08/10 Bill & Ana Lau (wedding anniversary)

Brad & Becky Klemm (wedding anniversary)

08/11 Fe Campos

08/12 Donald McKean (L)

08/13 Sammy Lantin

08/14 Leonor Leones

Christopher Lau (L)

08/15 Asuncion Triunfo

PRAY FOR THE SICK

Anthony De Cristoforo Allison Flamez Monica Jara Ana Alvarez Isabel Castillo Susana Jaime Maria Vargas Rosalinda Reyes Joseph Suta Jeanine Gordon Christine Pollnow Jake Johnstone Diane Hewson Clarissa Gutierrez Julia Rodriguez Fred & Emilia Sohn Raul Gonzalez Raquel Zittel Quinn Gurnett David Toy Ana Lopez

Dominador Hontucan Oralee Floria

Mary McLoughlin Angela Regan

Beverly Regan Josefina Zabat

Audry Robinson Loretta Holmes

Nancie Campi Betty Baker

Victor Miguel Barrios Carol Erikson

Nydia Pajarillo Danyel Sheets

Beth Wainwright Robin Wood

Billy Silva Mary Kennedy Marcella Hatch

Cheryl LaMarre Bill Clark

Staff and Administration Website: www.stmary-wc.org

Parish Office 891-8900 Fax 934-1358 Fr. Fred Riccio, friccio@stmary-wc.org Pastor 891-8900 Fr. John Blaker, 891-8900 In residence Ana Lau, alau@stmary-wc.org Office Manager 891-8908 Aileen Baker, abaker@stmary-wc.org Bookkeeper 891-8911

Faith Formation

Maureen Tiffany mtiffany@stmary-wc.org Director of Faith Formation 962-5808 Mary Kerfs, lifeteen@stmary-wc.org Administrative Assistant 891-8939 Austin Pisciotto apisciotto@stmary-wc.org Coordinator K-Grade 6 891-8944 Jethro Castillo jcastillo@stmary-wc.org Youth Minister Grades 7-12 891-8920 Heather Abraham, habraham@stmary-wc.org Coordinator Confirmation 891-8934 & Community Service Tim Mannix tmannix@stmary-wc.org RCIA & Liturgy Coordinator 891-8921

School

Office 935-5054 stmary@st-mary.net Website: www.st-mary.net Alumni: stmaryalumni@st-mary.net Garrett Padia, Principal 935-5054

Gimme a Break An atheist was spending a quiet day fishing when suddenly his boat was attacked by the Loch Ness monster. In one easy flip, the beast tossed him and his boat high into the air. Then it opened its mouth to swallow both. As the man sailed head over heels, he cried out, “Oh, my God! Help me!” At once, everything froze in place and, as the atheist hung in mid-air, a booming voice came down from the clouds, “I thought you didn’t believe in me?” “Come on, God, gimme a break!” the man pleaded. “Two minutes ago, I didn’t believe in the Loch Ness monster either!”

CREATE A FAMILY PRAYER SPACE AT HOME Now that families are spending more time togeth-er at home, one good use of this time would be to pray together on a regular basis. This prayer time together can be enhanced by creating a place in your home dedicated to prayer. Making a place for prayer in our home can help us do what the Gos-pel tells us: to go into an “inner room” to pray (Matthew 6:6). Make your prayer place as quiet, uncluttered, and “desert-like” as possible. It can be the corner of a room or any unused space. Furnish your prayer place with a Bible, prayer books, cross, rosary, icons, and a candle. Encourage family members to use the prayer place for personal as well as family prayer. You can bless your place of prayer, saying:

Come, Holy God. Dwell in this place of prayer, and bless it with your peace and presence. Bless all who seek you here. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

If you are unable to go to Mass, one idea for prayer together is to find a resource with the prayers and readings for Sunday Mass and pray those together. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

Courage and sacrificial love mark the life of St. Maximilian Kolbe. He became a priest of the Fran-ciscan order. Dedicated with evangelization, he published a magazine to teach the Catholic faith and encourage devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. During the Nazi occupation of Poland, Fr. Kolbe was arrested and sent to Auschwitz. One day a prisoner escaped from the camp. The Nazi punishment was harsh. For one escapee, ten must die in his place. The guards picked ten men at random. One began to beg for his life on behalf of his family, and another man stepped for-ward and offered to take his place. Fr. Kolbe was sentenced, along with the other nine men, to death by starvation. For this "martyr of Auschwitz," a life of devotion culminated in one heroic, Christ-like act. ©LPi

The Assumption: A Sign of Hope

Is the resurrection a concept or reality? For many of us, the resur-rection of the dead may be a stray idea we recite in the Nicene Creed. Heaven, we discuss. But resurrection? The feast of the As-sumption is a reminder to us that heaven gets even better! We pray that the souls of the faithful de-parted would soon be united to God in heaven. The truth is, the separation between our souls and our bodies was not God’s original plan for things. It’s one of the re-sults of the Fall, of original sin. At the end of time and Jesus’ second coming, our bodies and souls will be reunited. Lest we forget, Mary’s Assumption is the reminder. Today, we celebrate that Mary is enjoying what we, too, hope to participate in — complete joy in heaven with our God, experienced body and soul. Today and every day, let’s pray for those who have died and that we may meet them again in the heavenly kingdom. ©LPi

St. Patrick’s Seminary & University (STPSU) has announced that its an-nual Gala fundraiser, scheduled for September 12, will be can-celed. A large gathering of this size is not seen as appropriate or prudent at this time. Seven semi-narians were able to successfully complete their studies remotely for the past term and have graduated! STPSU anticipates resuming the Annual Gala in September, 2021. Online donations are encouraged at: stpsu.edu/gala#donate

AUGUST 15

SANTA TERESA BENEDICTA DE LA CRUZ (1891-1942) Fiesta: 9 de agosto Edith Stein nació y creció en una familia judía muy piadosa. Siempre fue muy inteligente y a los 13 años renunció a Dios, declarándose atea. A los 23 años obtuvo un doctorado en filosofía y, tras el testimonio de la viuda de quien fuera su maestro, leyó en una sola noche la vida de Santa Teresa de Ávila y ahí encontró la verdad. Abrazó la fe cristiana y se hizo bautizar, cosa que causó mucho dolor a su madre. Posteriormente, más dolor causó cuando les dijo que se haría monja carmelita, como Teresa. Ahí brilló por su pensamiento filosófico y también por su capacidad de enseñar. Como religiosa adoptó el nombre Benedicta de la Cruz (bendecida de la cruz), nombre que marcaría su vida de sacrificio. Fue trasladada a Holanda, pero ahí, en 1942 llegó la Gestapo (policía secreta alemana) y la arrestaron por ser judía. Junto con otros hermanos y hermanas, la enviaron en un tren hasta Auschwitz, un campo de concentración que se encuentra en Polonia, ahí, murió valientemente en la cámara de gas. Fue canonizada en 1998. —Miguel Arias, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Ojalá que, como Pedro, deseáramos pedirle al Señor que nos mande a caminar sobre las aguas. Que en las situaciones difíciles de enfer-medad, pérdida de trabajo, falta de vivienda y muerte de seres queridos, sepamos correr el riesgo de buscar a Dios, a ejemplo de Pedro. Pero, sin dudar, sino con una confianza firme. Nuestra vida está en manos de Dios, dice mucha gente, y hasta nosotros lo decimos continuamente; en otras palabras, aceptar la volun-tad de Dios, que sea lo que Dios quiera. Dios no nos abandona. Tantas palabras muchas veces son vanas porque a las primeras de cambio, nos hundimos y perdemos la fe. En el fondo, como Pedro, confiamos más en nuestras fuerzas que en la misericordia de Dios. Cada quien trae su propio costal y sabe lo que contiene, sus propias tempestades y altas olas que lo desubican y que le impiden confiar en Jesús. Hoy, el Evangelio nos pide confianza y la seguridad de dejarnos tomar de la mano de Jesús. Dios es suave confianza e intimidad segura. Santa Teresa de Ávila lo asegura en la siguiente oración: “Nada te turbe, nada te espante. Todo se pasa, Dios no se muda. La paciencia todo lo alcanza; quien a Dios tiene, nada le falta: sólo Dios basta”. El Señor nos dice que no ten-gamos miedo, que como Pedro o cualquier discípulo de su tiempo y de este tiempo, Él extenderá su mano y nos sujetará ante la tempestad. Sólo se pide fideli-dad y confianza. Hagamos la prueba y veremos la misericordia del Señor. No perdamos de vista al que camina sobre las aguas y nos pide que vayamos a su encuentro. Él tiene el poder de hacer cosas nunca vis-tas en todos los que creen. ©LPi

Lunes: 2 Cor 9:6-10; Sal 112 (111):1-2, 5-9; Jn 12:24-26 Martes: Ez 2:8 — 3:4; Sal 119 (118):14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131; Mt 18:1-5, 10, 12-14 Miércoles: Ez 9:1-7; 10:18-22; Sal 113 (112):1-6; Mt 18:15-20 Jueves: Ez 12:1-12; Sal 78 (77):56-59, 61-62: Mt 18:21 — 19:1 Viernes: Ez 16:1-15, 60, 63 [59-63]; Is 12:2-3, 4bcd-6; Mt 19:3-12 Sábado: Ap 11:19a; 12:1-6a, 10ab; Sal 45 (44):10-12, 16; 1 Cor 15:20-27; Lc 1:39-56 Domingo: Is 56:1, 6-7; Sal 67 (66):2-3, 5, 6, 8; Rom 11:13-15, 29-32; Mt 15:21-28

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