St. Mary Catholic Church

Dear Friends,

So often during the Easter Season we hear during the week Scriptures that are repeated on Sundays. That’s because these Gospel passages are so important for our Faith and our understanding of the power of Je-sus’ love for us.

Today we hear once again the story of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. That day concluded several horrible days when Jesus was arrested, tortured and then crucified. Three days later – the day of the Em-maus story – Mary of Magdala, Peter and John dis-covered the empty tomb. As Cleopas and his friend were returning home, trying to figure out what all this meant for their future, they encounter Jesus, but don’t realize (or believe) that it is He. In a very loving and human way, Jesus explains the Scriptures to them that He must die and rise. But it is not until they literally invite Him into their home and their lives that they rec-ognize Jesus in the Breaking of Bread.

Though we cannot share in the Eucharist in the same way we normally would, we can open our hearts and our lives to a greater encounter with the Risen Lord. We can spend time in prayer and in thanksgiving for the gift of our salvation in Christ. We are called into a new life with Jesus. May we accept that call, may we encounter Him in our daily lives, and may we live con-fidently in His continued care and blessing.

Father Fred

THE STRANGER Imagine meeting a stranger, a fellow traveler, who butts into the conversation you’re having with your friend. The two disciples in today’s Gospel are head-ing to Emmaus, seven miles away from Jerusalem, heartbroken and disillusioned. It’s the day of Jesus’ resurrection, but no one knew it when these two set out on their journey, maybe going home to resume their pre-Jesus lives because it seemed as if everything was over. In the middle of trying to make sense of the trage-dy, some eavesdropping guy asks them about their troubles. After telling their story, the disciples are amazed to find this stranger able to piece together the fragments of the broken image of their master using scripture as the glue. Then it happens—at dinner they recognize Jesus in the breaking of bread, just before he vanishes. With their hearts burning with love and inspiration, they run back to Jerusalem—at night—to tell the others their new story. THE STRANGER/SHEPHERD The stranger in this story who turns out to be Jesus is reminiscent of the Gospel images of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. He seeks out his “lost sheep” who have strayed from the faith community, and the expe-rience of the risen Lord transforms them into perhaps the very first evangelists, sharing their Good News with their friends back in Jerusalem. Are we transformed by the time we leave Mass? We should be! Our hearts should be burning within us from our experience of Jesus in word and sacrament. Yet how often life breaks our heart and clouds our mind! We stumble toward our own Emmaus, unaware that Jesus is with us. We are privileged to experience Je-sus in every Eucharist through the breaking open of scripture and by the breaking of the bread. Like the disciples of the story, that transforming experience can compel us to go forth and tell everyone the Good News. Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

ORGANIZATIONS

CYO, Jerry Florence stmarycyo.wc@gmail.com 510-504-5954 Charismatic Prayer Group, Jim Crowley 944-0359 Eucharistic Adoration, Mary Johnstone 954-7205 Filipino-American (Fil-Am) Ministry, Elena Gaoiran 525-7089 Finance Council, Brian Mulligan 210-1031 Hispanic Ministry, Maria Castro 550-3016 Homebound Ministry, Helene Vizcarra 891-8936 Hospital Ministry, Angeles Ron 856-8780 Knights of Columbus, John Cuddihy 286-4515 Respect Life Ministry, Jim Crowley 944-0359 Rosary Makers, Ana Lau 256-4428 St. Vincent de Paul, Barb Erickson 937-2817 Walking with Purpose, Laura Lencioni 997-4379

MASS SCHEDULE

PRAY FOR THE SICK

Staff and Administration Website: www.stmary-wc.org

Parish Office 891-8900 Fax 934-1358 Fr. Fred Riccio, friccio@stmary-wc.org Pastor 891-8900 Fr. John Blaker, 891-8900 In residence Ana Lau, alau@stmary-wc.org Office Manager 891-8908 Aileen Baker, abaker@stmary-wc.org Bookkeeper 891-8911

Faith Formation

Mary Kerfs, lifeteen@stmary-wc.org Administrative Assistant 891-8939 Tim Mannix, RCIA & tmannix@stmary-wc.org Liturgy Coordinator 891-8921 Austin Pisciotto apisciotto@stmary-wc.org Grades 4-8 891-8944 Maureen Tiffany mtiffany@stmary-wc.org Grades K-3 891-8942 Heather Abraham, habraham@stmary-wc.org Confirmation 891-8934

School

Office 935-5054 stmary@st-mary.net Website: www.st-mary.net Alumni: stmaryalumni@st-mary.net Garrett Padia, Principal 935-5054 Advisory Council Joel Williams, President 768-6711 Parents Club Shannon Crvarich, Co-President 949-973-8046 Lisa Kavanagh, Co-President 768-9890

Allison Flamez Monica Jara Ana Alvarez Isabel Castillo Susana Jaime Maria Vargas Anthony De Cristoforo Rosalinda Reyes Joseph Suta Jeanine Gordon Christine Pollnow Jake Johnston Bill Clark Diane Hewson Clarissa Gutierrez Julia Rodriguez Fred & Emilia Sohn Raul Gonzalez Raquel Zittel Dominador Hontucan Quinn Gurnett

Oralee Floria Mary McLoughlin

Angela Regan Beverly Regan Josefina Zabat Audry Robinson Loretta Holmes Nancie Campi

Betty Baker Carol Erikson

Nydia Pajarillo Danyel Sheets

Beth Wainwright Ron Giglio

Robin Wood Billy Silva

Mary Kennedy Marcella Hatch

Ana Lopez David Toy

Karen Mason

DATE MASS INTENTION

04/25 Keane Ponce (L)

04/26 Annie Ten

The People of St. Mary

Benjamin & Lilia Moreno

04/27 Vocations to the Priesthood

04/28 People afflicted with Coronavirus

04/29 Alyvia Johnstone (L) B’D’

04/30 Kayla Ponce (L)

05/01 Sister Carmel Garcia (L)

05/02 All Healthcare Workers

Carlos Saldana, Jr. (L)

STAY WITH US, LORD

Walk with us, Lord, along the road of resurrection!

Explain for us, so slow to believe, the things that Scripture says of you.

Break the bread of the Eucharist with us

whenever we share our lives with our brothers and sisters.

Stay with us each time night approaches

and the daylight fades in our hearts!

—From Come, Lord Jesus by Lucien Deiss, CSSp, copyright © 1976, 1981, Lucien Deiss. Published by World Library Publications. p.168

All these intentions will be honored and prayed for by our priests during their private Masses.

Responsibility of a Godparent

Question: As the godfather for my niece, what must I do as she grows up? Are there specific responsibilities I have?

Answer: The biggest responsibility you have as a godparent is to set a good example of practicing faith. Receiving the sacraments and taking an active part in your parish teaches by deed and shows your godchild how to live a life of faith. Next to the child’s parents, your role can be one of great influence in her religious formation and education. What else can you do? A special remembrance on the day the child was baptized can highlight its im-portance. As the child grows older, discussions about God, Jesus, matters of faith, and the parish provide opportunities to share your own beliefs and practices. Celebrate first Penance, first Communion, and Confir-mation as key moments in your godchild’s faith jour-ney. Parents and godparents share in this responsibil-ity in a unique and special way. Your obligations do not end with the ceremony of Baptism, but are just the beginning. LPi

SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA (1347-1380) April 29

Imagine the pope receiving a young woman still in her twen-ties who addresses him as “my sweet Christ on earth,” then orders: “Get back to Rome where you belong!” Amazingly,

Gregory XI complied! Yet this was but one astonishing incident in the extraordinary life of Catherine of Si-ena, a truly unique medieval woman. Youngest of twenty-five children, Catherine refused marriage and became a Dominican Tertiary at sixteen, cloistering herself at home in contemplative prayer, austere pen-ances, and mystical experiences, culminating in “spiritual espousal” to Christ. Then, incarnating the Dominican ideal of “passing on to others the fruits of contemplation,” Catherine left her solitude to care for the poor, nurse the sick, comfort the dying, and bury the dead. Increasingly renowned for converting souls and healing bodies, she was sought after to broker peace during civil wars and Church schisms. All this, and like Jesus, whom she called “my Divine Spouse,” she died at thirty-three! Four hundred letters and her spiritual classic The Dialogue inspired Paul VI to name her, together with Teresa of Ávila, the first women Doctors of the Church. —Peter Scagnelli, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

Whenever you want to intercede with Me for another, it is enough for you to make your prayer as it comes to you through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, knowing tht I will hear you and that My Heart is, at every moment, open to your supplications. ..Trust that My response to your prayers is always the best of all pos-sible responses, and never fail to thank Me, even as you make your petitions, for no prayer of yours goes unanswered. (Words of Jesus in In Sinu Jesu)

LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA Lunes: Hch 6:8-15; Sal 119 (118):23- 24, 26-27, 29-30; Jn 6:22-29 Martes: Hch 7:51 — 8:1a; Sal 31 (30):3cd-4, 6, 7b, 8a, 17, 21ab; Jn 6:30-35 Miércoles: Hch 8:1b-8; Sal 66 (65):1-3a, 4-7a; Jn 6:35-40 Jueves: Hch 8:26-40; Sal 66 (65):8-9, 16-17, 20; Jn 6:44-51 Viernes: Hch 9:1-20; Sal 117 (116):1bc, 2; Jn 6:52-9 Sábado: Hch 9:31-42; Sal 116 (115):12-17; Jn 6:60-69 Domingo: Hch 2:14a, 36-41; Sal 23 (22):1-6; 1 Pe 2:20b-25; Jn 10:1-10

EL DESCONOCIDO Imagínate encontrar a un desconocido, otro viajero, que se entromete en una conversación que estás teniendo con tu amigo. Los dos discípulos en el Evangelio de hoy

se dirigen a Emaús, a siete millas de Jerusalén, desconsolados y desilusionados. Es el día de la resur-rección de Jesús, pero nadie lo sabía cuándo estos dos empezaron su camino, quizá regresando a casa para reanudar las vidas que llevaban antes de conocer a Jesús, pues parecía como si todo hubiera terminado. Mientras ellos tratan de encontrarle sentido a la tra-gedia, alguien que ha estado escuchando su conver-sación les pregunta qué les pasa. Después de con-tarle su historia, los discípulos se sorprenden al ver que este desconocido, usando las Escrituras, puede reconstruir la imagen rota de su maestro. Y entonces ocurre que durante la cena reconocen a Jesús al par-tir el pan, justo antes de que él desaparezca. Con sus corazones encendidos de amor e inspiración, corren para regresar a Jerusalén, en la noche, para con-tarles a los otros su nueva historia. EL DESCONOCIDO/PASTOR El desconocido en esta historia, que resulta ser Jesús, es reminiscente de las imágenes que los Evangelios presentan de Jesús como el Buen Pastor. Él busca a sus “ovejas perdidas” que se han desviado de la co-munidad de fe, y la experiencia del Señor resucitado los transforma en quizá los primeros evangelistas, que comparten la Buena Nueva con sus amigos al re-gresar a Jerusalén. ¿Y nosotros, somos transformados por la experiencia de la Misa? ¡Deberíamos serlo! Nuestros corazones deberían arder dentro de nosotros debido a nuestra experiencia de Jesús en palabra y sacramento. ¡Sin embargo, son tantas las veces en que la vida nos rompe el corazón y nos nubla la mente! Vamos dando tumbos hacia nuestro propio Emaús, sin darnos cuenta de que Jesús está con nosotros. Nosotros tenemos el privilegio de experimentar a Jesús en cada Eucaristía mediante las Escrituras y en la fracción del pan. Al igual que los discípulos de esta historia, esa experi-encia transformadora puede impulsarnos a ir y anun-ciar a todos la Buena Nueva.

Lecturas de hoy: Hch 2:14, 22–33; Sal 16 (15):1–2, 5, 7–8, 9–10, 11; 1 Pe1:17–21; Lc 24:13–35

Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc.

SANTA CATALINA DE SIENA (1347-1380) 29 de abril

Catalina, siendo la más pequeña de una familia de 24 hermanos, pidió a su ma-dre un cuarto privado para orar. Este deseo ferviente de Dios fue el hilo conductor de su vida. Desde muy pequeña hizo del amor a Dios y a los pobres el centro de su vida. A los 16 años ingresó a la Or-den Terciaria de las Domini-cas llevando una vida de

oración, de obras de misericordia y viviendo recluída en su casa. Sus encuentros místicos con Dios eran frecuentes después de la comunión, pero no quería que se hablara de ello. También se dedicó a visitar a los presos y a motivarlos a la conversión; en épocas de plagas se apresuraba a visitar a los enfermos, llevarles comida a los pobres y a sepultar a los difun-tos. Fue ella misma quien le urgió al Papa Gregorio XI que regresara a Roma, que allá estaba su lugar. En vida dictó más de 400 cartas y dos libros. En su tiempo fue vista por todos como una gran líder. Murió a los 33 años y en 1970 Pablo VI la declaró Doctora de la Iglesia. —Miguel Arias,Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.

QUÉDATE CON NOSOTROS, SEÑOR Camina con nosotros, Señor, por el camino de tu resurrección. Explícanos a nosotros, tardos para creer, lo que la Escritura nos dice de ti. Parte el pan de la Eucaristía con no-sotros cuando compartimos nuestras vidas con los hermanos y hermanas. Quédate con nosotros cada vez que se acerca la noche y la luz se apaga en nuestros corazones. —De Oraciones Biblicas por Lucien Deiss, CSSp, copyright © 1979, Lucien Deiss. Publi-cado por World Library Publications. p.52.

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