One of the things that older pastors and younger priests occasionally quarrel about is the proper balance between work and prayer. I know one pastor who complains that his younger associate ignores the people and the parish because he wants to spend more time in prayer. And the young priest complains that the pastor gives him too much work to do and no time to pray. The Lord’s words this Sunday speak into this tension with an image that can help us find a proper balance between life and prayer.
Jesus says, “For every tree is known by its fruit. For people do not pick figs from thorn bushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles” (Luke 6:44). When we are deeply rooted and cultivating our relationship with Jesus, we are going to bear the fruit of that love in our lives. No fruit, no good prayer. How do we know that we are praying well? We are experiencing concrete fruits of love for others in our lives.
Someone who prays well will, sooner or later, burst forth the “figs” and “grapes” of acts of love. But without concrete commitment to deeds of selfless service to others, our prayer time is as useless as thorn bushes and brambles. Let’s recommit ourselves to be men and women of prayer and service. And hopefully the pastors will help their associates to pray and serve fruitfully…with minimal quarreling. — Father John Muir ©LPi
General Mass Notes
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Welcome
Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time.
The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...
Please stand for our procession.
Mass Intentions
Saturday, March 1
5:00 PM
Silvia Tovar • †
David Wallin • †
Conception Velasquez • †
Almas del Purgatorio • †
Juan Miguel Sanchez • †
St. Joseph Parishioners • Thanksgiving
Aurora Gomez • Birthday
10:45 AM
Patricia Susana Milranda Sandoval • †
Ryan Gregory Bernaldo • †
Petra Vielma Aguiera • †
Alejandra Sandoval Alvarez • Health
Lydia Vigon • Health
Matthew Herrera • Birthday
Ashley Jimenez • Birthday
12:30 PM
Marilú Velasco • †
Guillermo Pérez Alvizures • †
Salvador Robles • †
Sonia and Jesus Noh • Anniversary
Alfonso Solórzano • Health
Sonia Mendez • Birthday
Jeremiah Dionicio • Birthday
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
A. For God’s holy Church, that we may remove the wooden beams that obstruct our ability to clearly see the needs of others while obstructing the world from recognizing our Christian mission, let us pray to the Lord.
B. For government leaders, that they may work to remove the splinters that afflict the people they serve, let us pray to the Lord.
C. For all living things that are dormant during the winter, that they may reemerge and blossom this spring and bear fruit in due season, let us pray to the Lord.
D. For all of us, that through the next forty days we not lose sight of the joy that awaits us at the end of Lent, especially during this Jubilee Year of Hope, let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
1. Next week we'll have a special collection to support the Church in Central and Eastern Europe. Communism in this region fell more than 30 years ago, but the Church still struggles to rebuild after decades of oppressive rule. Under communism, religion and religious practices were openly persecuted, and atheism was actively propagated and enforced. Your support of this collection funds grants for vital pastoral ministries throughout the region.
2. Ash Wednesday is this Wednesday, March 5, and we will have services in English from 8:00am to 9:00pm in the St. Joseph Hall and Spanish services from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. We will have English Mass at 8:00am and Spanish Mass at 5:00pm. We encourage you to carpool since parking will be limited.
3. Due to our first reconciliations of our religious education students, there will be no confessions on Mondays of March.
4. The St. John Seminary in Camarillo is hosting an open house on Saturday, April 5, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. This is a great opportunity to tour and experience the largest seminary in the southwest region of the country.
5. We thank Leylany's Decor company for sponsoring our bulletin; their information can be found on the last page of our bulletin. If you have a business and would like to sponsor our weekly bulletin, you can call the phone number at the bottom of the last page.
