A Message from Our Pastor
Dear Parishioners,
The Jewish Hasidic tradition teaches that everyone should have two pockets in their coats with two slips of paper. One slip says: “I am only dust and ashes.” The other, “For me the whole universe was created.” Sometimes we need to remember that first slip of paper, as we will do on Ash Wednesday that officially begins the time of Lent. And sometimes we also need to remember the second slip of paper to remember that we have been adopted by God in Christ that through him God forgives us and makes us joint heirs with Christ of all that has been made. This we will do as we liturgically and sacramentally celebrate the Paschal Mystery culminating with the Easter Triduum at the end of Lent. Lent is the season in which we are especially called to remember the sacrifice Jesus made for us on the cross, the season in which we are specially called to prepare ourselves for both his death and his resurrection, knowing as we do so that as we die with him so also we will rise with him. My prayer is that you should have an especially spiritually fruitful Lent. May it be a time of reflection, prayer, conversion, and spiritual renewal. May it be a time in which we realize that without God we are indeed a lifeless heap of dust and ashes. But because we are the beloved of God the whole universe has been created for us. As St. Paul reminds us in his letter to the Corinthians: “it is by His poverty that we have become rich.” God Bless, Father Rudy |
" May it be a time in which we realize that without God we are indeed a lifeless heap of dust and ashes. But because we are the beloved of God the whole universe has been created for us. "
Father Rudy |
Friday Lenten Schedule
Fish Fry Cancelled until further notice Stations of the Cross | English 7:00 pm (On Friday, April 3, Stations of the Cross will be led by the Youth Ministry. Everyone is welcome.) Vespers / Liturgy of the Hours | English Following Stations of the Cross in the Church Mass | Spanish 7:00 pm in the Chapel (The Spanish Healing Mass will be on Friday, February 28.) Stations of the Cross | Spanish Following the Spanish Mass in the Chapel (On Friday, February 3, Stations of the Cross is led by Spanish Faith Formation. Everyone is welcome.) |
Holy Week Schedule
The Parish Office and Parish Center will be closed Holy Thursday,Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Holy Thursday, April 9 //////// Morning Prayer | English 8:30 am in the Chapel Mass of the Lord’s Supper | Bilingual 7:00 pm in Church Adoration After Mass of the Lord’s Supper in the Chapel until midnight. Please note no confessions offered on Holy Thursday. Good Friday, April 10 //////// Morning Prayer | English 8:30 am Morning prayer in the Chapel Passion of the Lord Liturgy | Spanish Followed by Passion Play | Spanish 3:00 pm in the Church, Station of the Cross Play in Parking lot Passion of the Lord Liturgy | English 7:00 pm in the Church Please note no confessions offered on Good Friday Holy Saturday, April 11 //////// Morning Prayer | English 8:30 am in the Chapel Blessing of Easter Baskets | English 9:00 am in the Chapel Easter Vigil | Bilingual 8:30 pm in the Church Please note no confessions offered on Holy Saturday |
Easter Schedule
April 21, 2019 //////// Masses in the Church 6:30 am | Spanish (No Incense) 8:00 am | English (No Incense) 9:45 am | English (Incense) 11:30 am | English (Incense) 1:15 pm | Spanish (Incense) 5:00 pm | English (Incense) Masses in the Great Hall 8:00 am | English (No Incense) 9:45 am | English (No Incense) 11:30 am | English (No Incense) |
A Lenten Message From Pope Francis
Dear Brothers and Sisters, 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 of our life. With this message, I would like again this year to help the entire Church experience this time of grace anew, with joy and in truth. I will take my cue from the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew: “Because of the increase of iniquity, the love of many will grow cold” (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. |
Lenten Resources
Daily Meditations from Bishop Barron
Spend your time with Christ in the Gospel this Lent alongside Bishop Barron and the Word on Fire community. Daily Gospel reflections in your inbox every morning! |
BEST LENT EVER
A free email program that will guide you on an incredible journey toward the-best-version-of-yourself. From Ash Wednesday to Easter, you’ll discover ways to transform your life in forty days. |
Holy Heroes Lenten Adventure
You’ll receive regular emails linking you to daily activities, fun video & audio selections view and listen online to an array of Holy Heroes media, Activity Downloads, Fun quizzes and much more! |
USCCB
The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is an excellent resource to follow along through your Lenten Journey, they provide messages from Pope Francis, Liturgical knowledge, Mass readings and much more! |
Lifeteen
Lifeteen is a teen faith based program that is utilized here at STFOA. They offer blogs, books and other resources for Teens to navigate through their faith. |
Formed
Formed is a faith based subscription that all our Parishioners have access to! They have a plethora of videos, bible studies, and informational resources concerning Catholic Liturgical topics. Check out their Lent based resources! |