As a first-time pastor in a parish, I received a phone call one afternoon from a young married couple, “Father, our 2-year-old son drowned in our pool this morning. We are at the hospital. Please help us.” I sped over. The little boy was gone, his body cold, slightly blue, laid out on a bed. His parents were distraught and in shock. For the next few years, I walked with the couple along their difficult and painful road. They openly shared with me how they were often tempted to blame and accuse each other for the loss. And yet, by God’s grace, their love for each grew stronger and deeper as the years went by.
The Holy Family was not without its pain and loss, either. Luke tells us, after losing their twelve-year-old son, Joseph and Mary “after three days found him in the temple area, sitting among the teachers…” (Luke 2:46). We don’t know specifically what those three days were like for them except for what Mary says: “Your father and I have been looking for you anxiously.” The three days of his absence foreshadow his death and burial. His finding in the temple is a kind of resurrection for his family. They had to learn, again and again, that their family was becoming a place where death and resurrection was not only accepted but welcomed and celebrated. But surely they deeply felt the dangerous agony of their loss — just like every couple who has lost a child.
What losses in your experience of family still cause you anxiety? In what ways has God’s presence seemingly vanished in your family? Will you keep searching for Jesus? Remember, he will rise and be found. Your family may be suffering, but when he is found, it will be stronger than ever before. — Father John Muir ©LPi
Welcome
Welcome to our Eucharistic Celebration on this Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.
The intentions of this Mass are for all those in our special intention basket and...
Please stand for our procession.
Mass Intentions
Saturday, December 28
5:00 PM
Leonila Tan Chu • †
Anita Kaw • †
Silvestre Tolentino • †
Jose Pepe Moreno • †
Salvador Paez • †
Concepcion L. Torres • †
Wilbert Arias • Health
Yolanda Martinez • Health
Sunday, December 29
6:00 AM
Pilar Maldonado • †
10:45 AM
Jose Claudio Romero • †
Igwebuike Family • Prayer
Imosili Family • Thanksgiving
Maribel & Sergio Esparza • Aniversario
12:30 PM
Concepcion L. Torres • †
Edmea Costa Muniz • †
Universal Prayer (Petitions)
A. For Christians of every denomination, that we may grow ever closer as one family in Christ, let us pray to the Lord.
B. For families of every shape and size, that they may be blessed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, patience, and above all, love, let us pray to the Lord.
C. For those who have no close family, that they may find consolation in their other families: parish families, work families, extended families, and the one family of God, let us pray to the Lord.
D. For this parish family, that we may treat each other with kindness and respect, and may always be eager to welcome new members into our family, let us pray to the Lord.
Announcements
1. Thanks to you, we have exceeded our Called to Renew goal and currently have $362,000 in donations. We received 11,000 dollars in donations during the month of November. Half of all donations are sent to the Archdiocese where they will invest in lower income Parishes. We are thankful for your generosity.
2. We invite you to our New Years Mass where we celebrate the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God. January 1st is the first holy day of obligation of the year. Our New Year's Eve Masses will be at 5pm in English and 7pm in Spanish. Our New Year's Mass will be at 10:45am in English and 9:00am and 2:15pm in Spanish. The Parish office will be closed at 4pm on December 31st and closed all day on January 1st. There will be no confession and exposition of the Blessed Sacrament.
3. The Parish is selling calendars for next year. These calendars are custom made and include Mass schedule times and major event schedule. You can purchase your calendar in the Parish center for $5, there is a limited quantity.
4. We invite all those who feel the calling to be a Eucharistic Minister to attend our Archdiocese Eucharistic Minister training that will take place on Tuesdays January 7, 14, and 21, at 7:00pm in the St. Joseph Hall. There is a $15 donation for the course. This training is mandatory for all current Eucharistic Ministers.
5. We thank Automotive Attorney Juan Rodriguez from Legal Conexion 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.
