PARISH INFORMATION MARRIAGE: Contact the Parish office at (916) 452-0296 6 months prior to the wedding date. Marriage Prepara on classes are available. INFANT BAPTISM: Contact the Parish Office. Parents and godparents must a end class. ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Contact the Parish Office re-garding sick, elderly who are at home, hospitals or special care facili es. MUSIC: For Music Ministry, call Ben (916) 383-6155 RCIA: Process for adults and children of cateche cal age who are interested in joining the Catholic Church and bap zed Catholics wan ng to complete their ini a on sacraments of Confirma on and Eucharist. Please call Michelle Mills at (916) 806-6876 CFF: Catholic youth are formed through the Parish Faith Forma on Program (CFF). Deacon Lu (916) 452-0296x12 BULLETIN: Our church bulle n is prepared two weeks in advance. All submissions are reviewed by the Pastor. Email requests to traci@stmarysacto.org no later than the Thursday two weeks before.

ST. MARY SCHOOL To enroll in Preschool or TK to 8th grade,

please contact principal, Laura Allen at the school (916) 452-1100 or find more informa on on our

website www.saintmaryschool.com

MASS SCHEDULE Sunday 8:00, 9:30, 11:00am, and 6:00pm

Daily Mass: Monday - Saturday 8:00am; Saturday 5:00pm (Vigil Mass)

Holy Days: As announced in bulle n CONFESSION : Saturday: 3:30pm-4:30pm

Or by appointment PASTOR: Fr. Antony Vadakara, CMI

frantony@stmarysacto.org PAROCHIAL VICAR : Fr. Sijo Chirayath, CMI

frsijo@stmarysacto.org DEACONS: Deacon Luigi Del Gaudio, MSW

deaconlu@stmarysacto.org Deacon George W. Kriske

deacongeorge@stmarysacto.org BUSINESS MANAGER: Tracilyn Peters

Email: traci@stmarysacto.org Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm

INFANT MARY CHAPEL Open Daily 6:30 am-5:00 pm

Solemn Adora on: First Fridays 8:30 am-6:00pm PARISHIONER REGISTRATION: contact parish office

ST. MARY PARISH 1333 58th Street, Sacramento, CA 95819

Phone: (916) 452-0296 www.stmarysacto.org

FOLLOW OUR PARISH

Excerpt from the Message of His Holiness

Pope Francis for Lent 2019

For the creation waits with eager long-ing for the revealing of the children of God” (Rm 8: 19) Dear Brothers and Sisters, Each year, through Mother Church, God “gives us this joyful season when we prepare to celebrate the paschal mystery with mind and heart renewed … as we recall the great events that gave us new life in Christ” (Preface of Lent I). We can thus journey from Easter to Easter towards the fulfilment of the salvation we have already received as a result of Christ’s paschal mystery – “for in hope we were saved” (Rom 8:24). This mystery of salvation, already at work in us during our earthly lives, is a dynamic process that also embraces history and all of creation. As Saint Paul says, “the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the children of God” (Rom 8:19). In this perspective, I would like to offer a few reflections to accompany our journey of conversion this coming Lent. The redemption of creation - The celebration of the Paschal Triduum of Christ’s passion, death and resurrection, the culmination of the liturgical year, calls us yearly to under-take a journey of preparation, in the knowledge that our being conformed to Christ (cf. Rom 8:29) is a priceless gift of God’s mercy. When we live as children of God, redeemed, led by the Holy Spirit (cf. Rom 8:14) and capable of acknowledging and obeying God’s law, beginning with the law written on our hearts and in nature, we also benefit creation by cooperating in its redemption. That is why Saint Paul says that creation eagerly longs for the revelation of the children of God; in other words, that all those who enjoy the grace of Jesus’ paschal mystery may experience its fulfilment in the redemption of the human body itself. When the love of Christ transfigures the lives of the saints in spirit, body

and soul, they give praise to God. Through prayer, contemplation and art, they also include other creatures in that praise, as we see admirably expressed in the “Canticle of the Creatures” by Saint Francis of Assisi (cf. Laudato Si’, 87). Yet in this world, the harmony generated by redemption is constantly threatened by the negative power of sin and death. The destructive power of sin - Indeed, when we fail to live as children of God, we often behave in a destructive way towards our neighbours and other creatures – and ourselves as well – since we begin to think more or less consciously that we can use them as we will. Intemperance then takes the upper hand: we start to live a life that exceeds those limits imposed by our human condition and nature itself. We yield to those untrammelled desires that the Book of Wisdom sees as typical of the ungodly, those who act without thought for God or hope for the future (cf. 2:1-11). Unless we tend constantly towards Easter, towards the horizon of the Resurrection, the mentality expressed in the slogans “I want it all and I want it now!” and “Too much is never enough”, gains the upper hand. The root of all evil, as we know, is sin, which from its first appearance has disrupted our communion with God, with others and with creation itself, to which we are linked in a particular way by our body. This rupture of communion with God likewise undermines our harmonious relation-ship with the environment in which we are called to live, so that the garden has become a wilderness (cf. Gen 3:17-18). Sin leads man to consider himself the god of creation, to see himself as its absolute master and to use it, not for the purpose willed by the Creator but for his own interests, to the detriment of other creatures. The healing power of repentance and forgiveness - Creation urgently needs the revelation of the children of God, who have been made “a new creation”. For “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Cor 5:17). Indeed, by virtue of their being revealed, creation itself can celebrate a Pasch, opening

itself to a new heaven and a new earth (cf. Rev 21:1). The path to Easter demands that we renew our faces and hearts as Christians through repentance, conversion and forgiveness, so as to live fully the abundant grace of the paschal mystery. This “eager longing”, this expectation of all creation, will be fulfilled in the revelation of the children of God, that is, when Christians and all people enter decisively into the “travail” that conversion entails. All creation is called, with us, to go forth “from its bondage to decay and obtain the glorious liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8:21). Lent is a sacramental sign of this conversion. It invites Christians to embody the paschal mystery more deeply and concretely in their personal, family and social lives, above all by fasting, prayer and almsgiving. Fasting, that is, learning to change our attitude towards others and all of creation, turning away from the temptation to “devour” everything to satisfy our voracity and being ready to suffer for love, which can fill the emptiness of our hearts. Prayer, which teaches us to abandon idolatry and the self-sufficiency of our ego, and to acknowledge our need of the Lord and his mercy. Almsgiving, whereby we escape from the insanity of hoarding everything for ourselves in the illusory belief that we can secure a future that does not belong to us. And thus to rediscover the joy of God’s plan for creation and for each of us, which is to love him, our brothers and sisters, and the entire world, and to find in this love our true happiness. Dear brothers and sisters, the “lenten” period of forty days spent by the Son of God in the desert of creation had the goal of making it once more that gar-den of communion with God that it was before original sin (cf. Mk 1:12-13; Is 51:3). May our Lent this year be a journey along that same path, bring-ing the hope of Christ also to creation, so that it may be “set free from its bondage to decay and obtain the glori-ous liberty of the children of God” (Rom 8:21). Let us not allow this season of grace to pass in vain!

Mass Intentions Requested By Saturday, March 9 8:00am Evelyn Sylvester + Gabrielli Family 5:00pm Jacinta de Aguirre + Alarcon Family Maria & Marco Ferrarotti + Daughters Sunday, March 10 8:00am Maria Theresa Velo + The Lucchesini Family 9:30am Carol White + Janelle Niebauer & Family 11:00am Bill & Virginia White + Jim & Ginny Johnson 6:00pm For Our Parishioners and Their Prayer Requests Monday, March 11 8:00am Joseph Gomez + Gloria Gabrielli Gloria Zielke Mary Kassis Tuesday, March 12 8:00am Joseph Gomez + Mary Kassis Vanessa Papotto Mary Kassis Wednesday, March 13 8:00am Evelyn Sylvester + Rob & Traci Peters Vanessa Papotto Bilandzich Family Thursday, March 14 8:00am Evelyn Sylvester + Mary Kassis Lynn Knapp + Mary Kassis Friday, March 15 8:00am Annamma Vattothu Mary Kassis Lynn Knapp + Buzz & Carol Minow Saturday, March 16 8:00am Rich & Carol Chelini Mary Kassis 5:00pm Marjorie & Brian Paul + Family Sunday, March 17 8:00am Marlene Sarmento + Emily Rossi 9:30am Dina Ferriera + Margaret Machado & Family 11:00am Doris Arend + June Hartzell Family 6:00pm For Our Parishioners and Their Prayer Requests

READINGS FOR THE WEEK 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, 7c-8; Mt 7:7-12 Friday: 1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23:1-3a, 4-6; Mt 16:13-19 Saturday: Dt 26:16-19; Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 7-8; Mt 5:43-48 Sunday: Gn 15:5-12, 17-18; Ps 27:1, 7-9, 13-14; Phil 3:17 — 4:1 [3:20 — 4:1]; Lk 9:28b-36

You are a stranger but once. You are a child of God, redeemed by Our Savior, Jesus Christ. In God’s name, we welcome you. May you find friendship, peace and serenity in our community. If you are a visitor interested in joining our parish community or the Catholic Faith, please register as soon as possible using the form in the vestibules of the church or on our website. If you are returning after being away….

Welcome Home!

Robert Michael Rome, Jr. Dante DaPrato

Clarence Wallers

Congratulations to Mia Pulido

who celebrated her Quinceaneras

On February 23, 2019 And

Mariah Cornejo Who celebrated her

Quinceaneras On March 3, 2019

PAST AND FUTURE There is no saint without a past—and no sinner without a future. —Anonymous

Madeline Irene Marie Ostheimer

THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! THANK YOU!! Thank you to Paula Fox, Dorothy Cruz and Christina Cervantes for volunteering to help out in the parish office last week. Your help is truly and greatly appreciated!!

Altar Society News The next meeting of the Altar Society will be held March 19 in the Holy Spouses Room following an inspirational Mass celebrated by Father Antony in the Church Chapel. We thank Jennifer who will once again take over the readings etc. for the mass. At our last meeting, we collect-ed our yearly dues of $10.00, if you were unable to attend that meeting you can contribute at our March meeting. We want to thank our February hostesses Mary & Marie who provided us with such delicious treats and Cathy & Milka who will be our hostesses for March. Thank you also to Karen & Sally who cared for the Linens in February and Grace who will be caring for them in March. Hope to see you all two days after St. Patrick's Day!!!

USHERS NEEDED We are in dire need of Ushers, particularly for the 5pm Mass on Saturday Evening. Assistance at any Mass would also be greatly appreciated. If you are able to help, please contact Al Facino, the Usher Chairperson at 1- 916-363-8613 or alf672@comcast.net. You can also check-in with Tom Karver.Sat Evening

Thank you for supporting our neighbors in need through the Annual Catholic Appeal Your gift will make a difference in someone’s life. If you have not yet made a donation, it’s not too late! Envelopes are still available in the church or in the parish of-fice. Please remember …25% of

what you give is returned to our parish to assist people in our own community who need help.

DAY OF RECOLLECTION “With zeal I have been zealous for the Lord, God of hosts.” The Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites invites you to participate in our Day of Recollection on March 16, 2019. We are a community dedicated to the Carmelite tradition of following the Gospel of Christ in union with the Discalced Carmelite order of Friars and Nuns. The day begins with Mass in St. Mary Church at 8am, followed by Morning Prayer, light brunch, presenta-tions, meditation and social engagement, and ends by 12:15pm. We would love to share our charism with you. Please RSVP if you think you might join us at info@OCDSSacramento.org. For more information please go to our website http://ocdssacramento.org.

Join representatives from Catholic Funeral & Cemetery Services, a Ministry of the Diocese of Sacramento, they will be giving a brief presentation after each of the Masses the weekend of, March 16 and March 17, 2019. The presentations will be held in Parish Hall where you can get all of your questions answered like; can we be cremated? What is the difference between Funeral and Cemetery? I think I have it all taken care of, I have a bur-ial rite already at the Cemetery. Who picks up the de-ceased if they pass away at home? What are the Church’s teachings around being buried? Why is a Catholic Cemetery important? We are here as your resource through one of life’s most difficult times. For more information, please contact Nicole Zamora, Director of Community Outreach, at (916) 840-2138 or by e-mail at nzamora@cfcssacramento.org.

EXPEDIENCY IS NO JUSTIFICATION No one is justified in doing evil on the ground of ex-pediency. —Theodore Roosevelt

3/10/19 Second Sunday Social RCIA Rite of Sending Prep Adult/Teens Catechumenate Gabriel Project Meeting Children’s Liturgy of the Word Catholic Schools Majorettes Life Teen 3/11/19 Divine Mercy Chaplet Girl Scout Meeting Troop #1508 Prayer Request Group 3/12/19 Parent Club Meeeting Neo-Catechumenal Way Baptism Class St. Mary Adult Recreational Basketball 3/13/19 Centering Prayer Group Choir Practice CFF Stewardship Committee Meeting SVDP Meeting 3/14/19 School Mass Choir Practice School Lenten Program 3/15/19 Divine Mercy Chaplet School Spring Portrait Day Girl Scouts Meeting 7th Grade Lenten Soup Meal Stations of the Cross 3/16/19 OCDS Day of Reflection CFCS Pre Planning Seminar Confirmation Retreat Confessions Neocatechumenal Way 3/17/19 CFCS Pre Planning Seminar Adult/Teens Catechumenate Kids Catechumenate Children’s Liturgy of the Word Catholic Schools Majorettes

OUR MISSION STATEMENT St. Mary Parish prepares and sustains its members and

guests for a life and eternity in the presence of God. In accomplishing our mission, we proclaim and

celebrate our salvation through Jesus Christ enlivened by the Holy Spirit, nourish our sacramental life

especially in the Sunday celebration of the Eucharist and demonstrate our faith worshiping, educating,

serving and encouraging vocations.

THE GIFT OF TREASURE With gratitude for the gifts they have received,

Parishioners and visitors made a joyful return to the Lord of the following:

March 3, 2019

Weekly Collection (including EOP) :$8,602.21* Weekly Goal (to cover expenses): $13,000.00

Please remember St. Mary’s,

your Spiritual Home, in your will. *This amount only represents weekly Sunday Mass collections. Other sources of income (i.e. donations, building fund, etc.) are not included in this number.

ILL HABITS Ill habits gather by unseen degrees— As brooks make rivers, rivers run to seas. —Ovid

Next meeting of the St. Vincent de Paul Society is Wednesday, March 13 at 6:30 pm in Giovanni Hall. All are welcome. Our food locker is running low. If you are able to donate food, we could use - cereals (hot and cold), canned fruits, canned meats, pasta sauce, peanut butter, jelly and con-

diments. Annual Benefit Dinner for the Poor is April 26, 2019 at the Double Tree Inn at Arden. Guest Speaker is Father Leo Patalinghug , speaker, TV and radio host and author of books Grace Before Meals and Epic Food Fight. Company sponsorships are welcomed. Raffle tickets for Hawaii Trip for Two are $10 each. If interest-ed contact Michael Carroll. We will be brining the SVdP Truck for collection of household items, clothes and furniture in June. Think of us when you do your spring cleaning. You can also drop off donations at our Thrift Store on Watt Avenue or call for pickup at 916.972.1212 If you are interested in learning more about our Society please call or email Michael Carroll at 916.451.8551 or mcarroll51@comcast.net. Thank you for your ongoing support and prayers.

Help the Poor and enjoy Spaghetti Factory! St. Vincent de Paul helps people every day with food, basic shelter, and other services. Our Thrift Store pro-vides beds, furniture, clothing, referrals and hope! #HelpUsHelpOthers On Wednesday, March 20, The Spaghetti Factory will donate 15% of proceeds to our Thrift Store! Reverse Fast for Lent! Eat some pasta, help the poor! www.svdp-sacramento.o As the number of referrals to St. Vincent de Paul increase, we are in need of canned vegetables, fruit, chili, stew, tomato sauce and pasta sauce as well as canned meats. We are well stocked with soups at present. Dry goods like pasta, rice, cornbread mixes and breakfast cereals are always welcome also. Thank you once again for “feeding the hungry”.

Congratulations Fr. Antony on your Installation as Pastor of St. Mary Parish!!!

ALMSGIVING, PRAYER, FASTING AND TEMPTATION

As we begin our season of fasting, prayer, and alms-giving, the reading from Deuteronomy reminds us of our duty of almsgiving, that we “set [our offerings] before the Lord, [our] God, [and] shall bow down in [God’s] pres-ence” (Deuteronomy 26:10). The reading from Romans refers us to our prayer, reminding us that “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart . . . For every-one who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved” (Romans 10:8, 13). These are comforting words, and encourage us to ask God for what we need and to aid us in our prayer. Finally, the Gospel of Luke shows us a fasting Jesus, who was tempted as we are, and who knows what it means to be human. Someone once said that temp-tation arises when you’re tired and weary, and the devil comes along and makes a perfectly reasonable suggestion. Jesus shows us that, with his help, we too can overcome our temptations, reasonable as they may sound. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Lenten Soup Meal & Stations of the Cross Please join us every Friday during lent from 5:30pm-6:30pm for our Lenten Soup Meal in Giovani Hall followed by Stations of the Cross at 6:30pm in the Church. Thank you to the following ministries who have agreed to host the Lenten Soup Meals. March 15 – St. Mary Music Ministry March 22 – St. Men’s Ministry March 29 – Loving Hearts Ministry April 5 – Nicoletti, Culjis & Herberger April 12 – OPEN

Open Enrollment has begun: New students entering grades TK to 8, can now enroll for the 2019-2020 school year. If you know someone interested in enrolling, please let them know to contact us! Campus tours are available. Go to the school web-site www.saintmaryschool.com or please contact our princi-pal, Ms. Allen at (916) 452-1100 or lal-len@saintmaryschool.com. St. Mary Summer School begins June 10, 2019. Summer school is available to students in grades TK to 8 and offers Extended Care. Enrollment begins April 1, 2018.

The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults

• Do you have questions about the Catholic faith? • Are you thinking about becoming Catholic? • Are you Catholic but never completed the Sacraments

of Initiation (Confirmation and/or Eucharist)? If you or someone you know has questions like these, contact Michelle Mills at 916-806-6876 for more information about the RCIA process.

CFF NEWS

On Sunday, Feb. 24th, the Confirmation Candidates from our program attended Fired Up at Jesuit High School along with hundreds of other candidates from the Diocese of Sacramento. The work-shop speakers were interesting and communicated well with teenagers. It was incredible to sit in a gym with so many other students preparing for Confirmation and also sharing in a Mass celebrated by Bishop Soto.

Please pray for our students. Come, Gifts of the Holy Spirit, come!

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