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

www.stmarysacto.org Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:00 am-4:00 pm

Phone (916) 452-0296 • Fax (916) 452-3908

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord March 25, 2018

[Christ Jesus] humbled himself, becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. — Philippians 2:8

PARISH INFORMATION MARRIAGE: Contact the Parish office at (916) 452-0296 6 months prior to the wedding date. Marriage Preparation classes are available. INFANT BAPTISM: Contact the Parish Office. Parents and godparents must attend class. ANOINTING OF THE SICK: Contact the Parish Office regarding sick, elderly who are at home, hospitals or special care facilities. MUSIC: For Music Ministry, call Ben (916) 383-6155 RCIA: Process for adults and children of catechetical age who are interested in joining the Catholic Church and baptized Catholics wanting to complete their initiation sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist. Please call Michelle Mills at (916) 806-6876 CFF: Catholic youth are formed through the Parish Faith Formation Program (CFF). Deacon Lu (916) 452-0296x12 BULLETIN: Our church bulletin 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 information 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 bulletin CONFESSION : Saturday: 3:30pm-4:30pm

Or by appointment PAROCHIAL ADMINISTRATOR:

Fr. James Narithookil, CMI frjames@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 INFANT MARY CHAPEL Open Daily 6:30 am-5:00 pm

Solemn Adoration: First Fridays 8:30 am-6:00pm PARISHIONER REGISTRATION:

Please contact parish office at (916) 452-0296

FOLLOW OUR PARISH

Message of the Holy Father Francis for Lent 2018

Once again, the Pasch of the Lord draws near! In our preparation for Easter, God in His providence offers us each year the season of Lent as a “sacramental sign of our conversion”. Lent summons us, and enables us, to come back to the Lord wholeheartedly and in every aspect. “Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (Mt. 24:12). These words appear in Christ’s preaching about the end of time. They were spoken in Jerusalem, on the Mount of Olives, where the Lord’s passion would begin. In reply to a question of the disciples, Jesus foretells a great tribulation and describes a situation in which the community of believers might well find itself: amid great trials, false prophets would lead people astray and the love that is the core of the Gospel would grow cold in the hearts of many. False prophets: They can appear as “snake charmers”, who manipulate human emotions to enslave others and lead them where they would have them go. How many of God’s children are mesmerized by momentary pleasures, mistaking them for true happiness! How many men and women live entranced by the dream of wealth, which only makes them slaves to profit and petty interests! How many go through life believing that they are sufficient unto themselves and end up entrapped by loneliness! False prophets can also be “charlatans”, who offer easy and immediate solutions to suffering that soon prove utterly useless. How many young people are taken in by the panacea of drugs, of disposable relationships, of easy but dishonest gains! These swindlers, in peddling things that have no real value, rob people of all that is most precious: dignity, freedom and the ability to love. They appeal to our vanity, our trust in appearances, but in the end, they only make fools of us. In order to confound the human heart, the devil, who is “a liar and the father of lies” (Jn 8:44), has always presented evil as good, falsehood as truth. That is why each of us is called to peer into our heart to see if we are falling prey to the lies of these false prophets. A cold heart: We might well ask ourselves how it happens that charity can turn cold within us. What are the signs that indicate that our love is beginning to cool? More than anything else, what destroys charity is greed for money, “the root of all evil” (1 Tim 6:10). The rejection of God and his peace soon follows; we prefer our own desolation rather than the comfort found in his word and the s acraments. All this leads to violence against anyone we think is a threat to our own “certainties”: the unborn child, the elderly and infirm, the migrant, the alien among us, or our neighbor who does not live up to our expectations. Love can also grow cold in our own communities. The most evident signs of this lack of love: selfishness and spiritual sloth, sterile pessimism, the temptation to self-absorption, constant warring among ourselves, and the worldly mentality that makes us concerned only for appearances, and thus lessens our missionary zeal. What are we to do? Perhaps we see, deep within ourselves and all about us, the signs I have just described. But the Church, our Mother and Teacher, along with the often-bitter medicine of the truth, offers us in the Lenten season the soothing remedy of prayer, almsgiving and fasting. By devoting more time to prayer, we enable our hearts to root out our secret lies and forms of self-deception, and then to find the consolation God offers. He is our Father and he wants us to live life well. Almsgiving sets us free from greed and helps us to regard our neighbor as a brother or sister. What I possess is never mine alone. How I would like almsgiving to become a genuine style of life for each of us! I would also hope that, even in our daily encounters with those who beg for our assistance, we would see such requests as coming from God Himself. When we give alms, we share in God’s providential care for each of His children. If through me God helps someone to-day, will He not tomorrow provide for my own needs? For no one is more generous than God. Fasting weakens our tendency to violence; it disarms us and becomes an important opportunity for growth. On the one hand, it allows us to experience what the destitute and the starving have to endure. On the other hand, it expresses our own spiritual hunger and thirst for life in God. Fasting makes us more attentive to God and our neighbor. It revives our desire to obey God, who alone can satisfy our hunger. The fire of Easter: Above all, I urge the members of the Church to take up the Lenten journey with enthusiasm, sustained by almsgiving, fasting and prayer. If, at times, the flame of charity seems to die in our own hearts, know that this is never the case in the heart of God! He constantly gives us a chance to begin loving anew. During the Easter Vigil, we will celebrate once more the moving rite of the lighting of the Easter candle. Drawn from the “new fire”, this light will slowly overcome the darkness and illuminate the liturgical assembly. “May the light of Christ rising in glory dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds” and enable all of us to relive the experience of the disciples on the way to Emmaus. By listening to God’s word and drawing nourishment from the table of the Eucharist, may our hearts be ever more ardent in faith, hope and love.

Fr. James Narithookil, CMI—Parochial Administrator

We Welcome the Following New Parishioners To Our Parish Family:

Dorothy Cruz

Paul Gabrielli

Tyler, Ellen & Lane Meuchel

Alma Perez

We encourage all New Parishioners

to take a moment to register.

READINGS FOR THE WEEK Monday: Is 42:1-7; Ps 27:1-3, 13-14; Jn 12:1-11 Tuesday: Is 49:1-6; Ps 71:1-6, 15, 17; Jn 13:21-33, 36-38 Wednesday: Is 50:4-9a; Ps 69:8-10, 21-22, 31, 33-34; Mt 26:14-25 Thursday: Chrism Mass: Is 61:1-3a, 6a, 8b-9; Ps 89:21-22, 25, 27; Rv 1:5-8; Lk 4:16-21 Lord’s Supper: Ex 12:1-8, 11-14; Ps 116:12-13, 15-16bc, 17-18; 1 Cor 11:23-26; Jn 13:1-15 Friday: Is 52:13 — 53:12; Ps 31:2, 6, 12-13, 15-17, 25; Heb 4:14-16; 5:7-9; Jn 18:1 — 19:42 Saturday: a) Gn 1:1 — 2:2 [1:1, 26-31a]; Ps 104:1-2, 5-6,10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35; or Ps 33:4-7, 12-13, 20-22; b) Gn 22:1-18 [1-2, 9a, 10-13, 15-18]; Ps 16: 5, 8-11; c) Ex 14:15 — 15:1; Ex 15:1-6, 17-18; d) Is 54:5-14; Ps 30:2, 4-6, 11-13; e) Is 55:1-11; Is 12:2-6; f) Bar 3:9-15, 32 — 4:4; Ps 19:8-11; g) Ez 36:16-17a, 18-28; Ps 42:3, 5; 43:3-4 or Is 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6 or Ps 51:12-15, 18-19; h) Rom 6:3-11; i) Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Mk 16:1-7 Sunday: Acts 10:34a, 37-43; Ps 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23; Col 3:1-4 or 1 Cor 5:6b-8; Jn 20:1-9 or Mk 16:1-7 or (at an afternoon or evening Mass) Lk 24:13-35

Mass Intentions Requested By Saturday, March 24 8:00am Geraldine Mullen Judy Clemons 5:00pm Juanita Corcoran + Ramona Bugatto Sunday, March 25 8:00am Carmen Quintana + Bruce & Elvira O’Day 9:30am George Cundiff + John & Sharon Quesada 11:00am Jennifer Reilly Mary Kassis 6:00pm For our Parishioners and their Prayer Requests Monday, March 26 8:00am Gladys Sullivan Theresa Vinciguerra Elvira O’Day Nick & Milka Bilandzich Tuesday, March 27 8:00am Diana McKechnie Blecha Family George Giannecchini + Agnes & Enzo Costa Wednesday, March 28 8:00am Joseph DeCuir + Cecilia DeCuir Florida Shooting Anonymous Thursday, March 29 6:30pm Bonnie Williams Mary Kassis Friday, March 30 Saturday, March 31 8:00pm Carmen Quintana + Mary Kassis Sunday, April 1 8:00am Joseph, Mary, Anthony & Robert DeStefano + Angelo J. DeStefano 9:30am Maria & Marco Ferrarotti + Daughters 11:30am Robert & David Zarick + Joan Zarick

Ted Porter

Centering Prayer Do you find yourself in a spiritual desert? Do you think you are experiencing the “dark night of the soul” - finding it difficult to pray meaningfully? Contemplative (Centering) prayer may be what you are looking for. Day and time: Wednesday, 9:30am to 11am Place: Holy Spouses Room on the “M” St. side of church Prayer begins at 10am with a short reading from The Daily Reader for Contemplative Living by Fr. Thomas Keating, OCSO, a Cistercian monk, followed by Lectio Divina the coming Sunday Gospel. After 30 minutes of silent meditation, we end with vocal prayers of petition. Why not give it a try? Jesus said, “When you pray, go to your inner room...and pray to your Father in secret”. For more information contact Maxine Jennings at 916-383-1142

SPECIAL COLLECTION—GOOD FRIDAY

Pope Francis has asked our parish to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps Christians in the Holy Land. Through the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, you stand in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land as a witness of peace, supporting Catholics there in parishes and schools, maintaining Christian shrines and caring for refugees in the Holy Land. Please make your check payable to the name of your parish. Please be generous.

3/25/18 PALM SUNDAY Adult/Teens Catechumenate Kids Catechumenate Children’s Liturgy of the Word RCIA Elect Dismissal RCIA Palm Sunday Retreat Group Baptism Catholic School Majorettes 3/26/18 Divine Mercy Chaplet Tenebrae Service EDGE Prayer Request Group 3/27/18 Neo Catechumenal Way Choir Rehearsal St. Mary Adult Recreational Basketball 3/28/18 Centering Prayer Group Living Stations of the Cross Choir Practice CFF 3/29/18 HOLY THURSDAY Choir Practice Mass of the Lord’s Supper 3/30/18 GOOD FRIDAY Stations of the Cross Passion, Veneration and Communion Service 3/31/18 HOLY SATURDAY RCIA Rite Prep RCIA Easter Vigil Prep Easter Vigil Mass Neocatechumenal Way 4/1/18 EASTER SUNDAY Adult/Teens Catechumenate Kids Catechumenate Children’s Liturgy of the Word

Married Couples Spring is approaching when flowers start to bloom and we see and hear the birds singing. What about giving your marriage a "Spring Fling". A World Wide Marriage Encounter Weekend will give you new love for one another. The weekend will give you the time and tools to revitalize romance, deepen communication, and nourish the spirituality in your marriage. Upcoming weekends for 2018 are: April 13-15, 2018 in Reno, NV.; April 27-29, 2018 in Sacramento; August 24-26, 2018 in Sacramento; October 5-7, 2018 in Reno, NV.; and November 9-11, 2018 in Sacramento. IT IS NOT TOO EARLY TO REGISTER, CALL NOW! For more information visit our website at: https://www.sacramentowwme.orgor contact Terry & Janet at applications@sacramentowwme.org or 916-489-3464.

SUFFERING Jesus did not come to do away with suffering or remove it. He came to fill it with his presence. —Paul Claudel

Attention all Altar Servers: Diocese of Sacramento

Altar Server Olympics 2018! On April 21, 2018, the Altar Server Olympics is coming to Trinity Pines Catholic Center in Colfax! From 1:00 – 6:00pm, teams hailing from all parts of the Diocese will be competing for the title of Altar Server Olympic champions. We'll start our day with Mass at 1:00 pm. The day is a great opportunity to participate in a fun and friendly competition. Altar Server Olympics is open to Servers in 5th - 12th grade with two separate age divisions. Division A is for all 8th - 12th grade Altar Servers and Division B is for 4th - 7th grade Altar Server. The winning team from Division A will earn the right to display the coveted St. John Berchmans’ Cup in their parish sacristy for the year. The top two winning teams from Division B will earn the right to display the St. John Berchmans’ Award in their parish sacristy for the year. Competitions will focus on: -Picnic Games & Relay Races w/ an Altar Serving Twist -Knowledge of the Parts of the Mass -The life and legacy of St. John Berchmans, patron saint of altar servers (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Berchmans) -Good knowledge of the Liturgical Year and Liturgical Colors -The Craft of Altar Serving – how to serve on the altar at a Sunday Mass, a Funeral and at a Confirmation Mass with the Bishop. -The Implements of Altar Serving – the names and uses of everything an altar server might encounter during Mass. -General Understanding of the Faith – Questions will be pulled from 4th and 6th grade textbooks commonly used at schools and in faith formation classes The day is full of fun and fellowship! Remember to dress casual. Please contact Altar Server Coordinator Ava Conlin at 760-809-7932 or ava_conlin@yahoo.com ASAP if interested.

PASSION The contrast between the processional reading in to-day’s liturgy and the proclamation of the Passion is strik-ing. We are given a glimpse of how profoundly the word of God is fulfilled in Jesus. First he must be hailed as the Messiah, the One who is to come. He must be acknowledged by all, though they do not know what they are saying. They think he is the promised king, a worldly king of the Jews who will free them from the Roman occupation. They do not yet under-stand, even the disciples, exactly where this triumphal procession is leading. In our lives, we too do not know where we are going. It is in faith that we can follow Christ wherever he may lead us, trusting that death is not the end, nor evil the victor. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

ST. MARY Building Fund Raiser

GOAL: $950,000

July 1, 2017 - March 4, 2018 Less Donations: $117,571 Balance Required: $832,429

" The great start of Renovation"

Open Enrollment has begun: New students entering grades TK to 8, can now enroll for the 2018-2019 school year. If you know someone interested in enrolling, please let them know to contact us! Campus tours are available. Go to the school website www.saintmaryschool.com or please contact our principal, Ms. Allen at lallen@saintmaryschool.com or (916) 452-1100 .

Preschool at St. Mary’s 2018 All “potty” trained three and four-year-old children may attend our year-round preschool program. Please continue your support and help us promote this important faith-based preschool program. St. Mary Summer School begins June 6, 2018. Summer school is available to students in grades TK to 8. Enrollment begins April 1, 2018.

Mark your Calendars! Our annual auction is Saturday, March 24th and promises to be a Mustang Masquerade of fun! This year we are introducing mobile bidding for the silent items and an exciting live auction which includes destinations, priceless experiences and tuition assistance for our students. There will be dancing at the end so go online and make your reservations! www.saintmaryschool.com Click Events find Auction 2018 and see what we have going on.

Have you ever thought about working in one of our Catholic schools?

This parish ministry is one of the largest within our diocese. Our schools welcome Catholics to apply for a variety of positions, including serving as teachers, teacher’s aides, administrative assistants, librarians, yard duty personnel, and others. Working in a Catholic school is a call-ing. Have you stopped to listen to the call? Many people have started their Catholic school ministry after working in another field. The Catholic School Department is open to supporting you in your calling. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Tosha Tillotson at (916) 733-0118 or ttillotson@scd.org.

Attention all 7th grade boys Jesuit High School is hosting a practice High School Placement Test, “Pre-HSPT” on Saturday, April 21, 2018 beginning at 9:00 AM. All applicants for 9th and 10th grade are required to take this test as part of the application process. PREPARE NOW FOR THE REAL TEST NEXT YEAR! The cost is $35 per student. Register at www.jesuithighschool.org/hspt-testing

7 Churches Pilgrimage We invite you next Holy Saturday to walk and pray to the 7 Churches Pilgrimage on March 31 at 7am. Starting our journey at St. Elizabeth Parish (located at 12th St and "S"), we will visit 6 other churches and will finish at the Shrine of Guadalupe around 2pm. We will walk with our Bishop Jaime Soto for almost 8 miles of sacrifice and prayer. For more information, please visit our website: www.radiosatisimosacramento.com, or call us at: (916) 442-7389.

Call for Ministry Days speakers! September 28-29, 2018

Are you interested in sharing your knowledge and wisdom with others? We are looking for workshop speakers for our upcoming Ministry Days 2018. Please go to www.ministrydays.com to submit your proposal. For questions please contact: ministrydays@scd.org or(916) 733-0123.

Holy Hour for Voca ons: Please join the Office of Voca ons and the Sacramento Newman Center (5900 Newman Court, Sacramento, CA 95819) in prayer and fellowship for voca ons on Wednesday, March 28th at 6:30 p.m. If you have any ques ons, please contact the Office of Voca ons at (916) 733-0258 or by email at msmith@scd.org.

World Day of Prayer World Day of Prayer will be observed on Sunday, April 22nd, also known as "Good Shepherd Sunday." The purpose of this day is to publically fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). Please pray that young men and women hear and respond generously to the Lord's call to the priesthood, diaconate, religious life, societies of apostolic life or secular institutes. You can find many resources to promote a culture of vocations on the USCCB Vocations webpage (www.usccb.org/vocations). (www.USCCB.org)

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 as modeled by Mother Mary.

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