A Letter From Our Pastor

A Letter From Our Pastor
SUNDAY MASSES
Saturday: 5:30pm
Sunday: 6:45am, 8:00am, *9:30am
11:00am, 5:30pm *Signed for hearing impaired
Domingo: 12:45pm & 2:30pm (Español)
HOLY DAYS / DIAS SANTOS
(Days of Obligation)
English - Vigil: 5:30pm
7:00am, 9:00am, 12noon, 5:30pm
Español: 7:30pm
WEEKDAY MASSES
CONFESSIONS
Mon-Fri: 7:00am & 5:30pm
Weekdays: 6:30am & 5:00pm
(20 min. before Mass)
Saturday: 4:00pm - 5:00pm & 8:00pm
WEDDINGS
By appointment, 6-month advance notice.
PASTOR
Fr. Tom Baker
ASSOCIATE PASTORS
Fr. Gerald Osuagwu
Fr. Raymont Medina
BAPTISMS
English: 3rd Saturday of each month.
Call 948-3011.
Spanish: El primer Sabado de cada mes.
Llame 942-7853.
Pastors Corner
April 17, 2016
Page 2
Fourth Sunday of Easter
God Will Wipe Away our Tears
The final line from our second reading today says: “And God will wipe away
every tear from their eyes.” The image of God wiping away tears of His children can
bring to mind the times parents or teachers bent down to console us and wipe
away the tears from our eyes when we were children. We can remember times
when someone was there with a tissue and some consoling words. Perhaps it was a
time a favorite pet died, or we failed an exam, or we were not included in some
group activity and felt left out.
As we grow up, we begin to cry more in secret, thinking that we should outgrow crying and supposing that no one really cares anyway. With it we may have
lost the beautiful image of our God as a tear-wiper, the One who cares, who suffers
with us, who wants to console us if we simply allow it. This image of God as tearwiper might replace and image of God as a judge, ruler and condemner. To the God
of consolation I can turn with my adult pains, disappointments and hurts, knowing
that He is there with a caressing hand to share my burden and lead my gently to a
place of life-giving renewal.
Compassion (to suffer with) begins not with the will to love but with the
recognition that one is loved. It is not an act but an attitude, a way of being in relationship, accepting the other in his or her weakness and responding to the needs of
the other with mercy. We are loved because we are God’s children. God wipes our
tears, has compassion on us and extends mercy because we are His. During this
Year of Mercy may we find comfort in the God who will wipe away our tears, and
my each of us extend His merciful love and compassion to others. Peace. Fr. Tom
P.S. – Today is Good Shepherd Sunday and a wonderful day to pray for and reflect upon Church vocations. Please pray for
priests, deacons and those vowed to religious life. Please pray for seminarians and an increase of vocations.
Dios Enjugara Nuestras Lagrimas
La ultima oración de la Segunda Lectura de hoy dice: “Dios enjuagará de sus ojos toda lagrima.” La imagen de Dios
enjuagando lágrimas de Sus niños pudo haber tenido algunos inconvenientes en tiempos de nuestros padres y de nuestros
maestros, pues cuando llorábamos se tenían que agachar para consolarnos y secarnos las lagrimas. Recordamos cuando alguien estuvo allí con un pañuelo secando nuestras lágrimas y consolándonos con algunas bellas palabras. Quizás fue cuando se
nos murió nuestra mascota favorita, cuando fallamos en algún examen o cuando nos sentimos excluidos de algún grupo.
Pero cuando vamos creciendo comenzamos a llorar en lo secreto, pensando que tenemos que crecer más y superar
nuestro llanto y pensamos que de todos modos nadie se puede preocupar por nosotros. Posiblemente ya hemos perdido la
imagen de Dios como consolador, como cuidador, o como el que sufre con nosotros. Quizás esta imagen fue reemplazada por
la imagen de un Dios como juez, como un líder gobernante condenador. Sin embargo, nosotros podemos recurrir a la imagen
del Dios consolador para que nos ayude como adultos cuando tenemos experiencias de dolor, desilusiones, heridas y muchas
cosas más que nos agobian, Él siempre está allí con su mano protectora para darnos una caricia y para que confiemos en Él y
depositemos nuestras cargas en Él para que nos lleve con su amor a un lugar de renovación vivificante.
La compasión (padecer con) no empieza con la voluntad de amar, sino con el reconocimiento de que uno es amado.
No es un acto sino una actitud, una manera de estar en relación, de aceptar al otro en su debilidad y responder a las necesidades de los demás con misericordia. Somos amados porque somos hijos e hijas de Dios. Dios enjuga nuestras lágrimas, porque
tiene compasión de nosotros y extiende su misericordia porque somos sus hijos. Hermanos y hermanas: Durante este Año de
la Misericordia podemos encontrar consuelo en el Dios que enjugará nuestras lágrimas, y cada uno de nosotros debe extender
Su misericordioso amor y compasión a los demás. Paz P. Tomás.
P. D. Hoy el “Domingo del Buen Pastor”, hoy es un día maravilloso para rezar y reflexionar sobre las vocaciones en la Iglesia.
Por favor, oren por los sacerdotes, los diáconos y los llamados a la vida religiosa. Oren por los seminaristas y por un aumento
de vocaciones en l a Iglesia.
The Happenings
April 17, 2016
Page 3
Fourth Sunday of Easter
A Letter from our Pastor
My dear parishioners of Sacred Heart,
It has been my great honor and privilege to serve here as pastor these past 11
years. This past week I received a call from the Archdiocese and have been asked to
pastor another parish, St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Santa Clarita, effective July 1, 2016.
This decision was not arrived at easily for me, but I believe with all my heart this is
where God is directing me at this time. I have always realized that each assignment is
temporary and have been open to God’s spirit, the needs of this Archdiocese and the
requests of the Archbishop.
In 2005 Cardinal Mahony assigned me here as pastor, and for these past years
I have enjoyed working here and walking together in faith. While I had hoped to be
here for the construction of the new Church, with the recession it appeared this would
not happen before my term was completed in June of 2017. I am proud of the progress
we have made as a parish community and the expansion of our parish property. I am
confident, with your continued support that the new Sacred Heart Church will be
built in the near future and I look forward to returning to celebrate with you when it
is dedicated.
During these years I have worked and lived with great priests and pastoral
interns. The parish has been ideal for training seminarians and molding new priests. It
has fostered needed candidates for serving as deacons, initiated many new adults into
the faith, formed our teens as Disciples of Christ and planted great seeds of faith in our
children. I am proud of the wonderful school faculty, the amazing parish staff and the
many, many dedicated volunteers here at Sacred Heart.
Having served here as pastor for 11 of my 27 years as a priest, I will forever be
grateful for the love received here at Sacred Heart Church. As we continue to move forward in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, please
pray for me and the new assignment ahead as I will continue to pray for you.
I close with these words from a Christian song entitled Highest Honor: “For my family and for my friends, and those
whose world I spent the briefest moment in. And for myself and for my Savior, we all deserve – the highest honor.”
And to you my Sacred Heart family, I extend my highest honor. Thank you.
Carta de Nuestro Pastor
Estimados feligresas del Sagrado Corazón,
He sido llamado para ser el pastor de otra parroquia: St. Kateri Tekakwitha en Santa Clarita, esto será efectivo el 1o. de
Julio 2016. Esta decisión me llegó de sorpresa y no es fácil para mí, sin embargo, creo con todo mi corazón que Dios me dirige en
este momento. Estoy plenamente consciente que cada asignación es temporal, y tengo que estar abierto al espíritu de Dios, así como a las necesidades de la Arquidiócesis y a la solicitud del Arzobispo.
En el 2005 el Cardenal Mahony me asignó aquí como su pastor, y por estos últimos años aquí he disfrutado mucho mi trabajo pastoral y de caminar junto con ustedes en la fe. Sin embargo, tenía la esperanza de continuar aquí para la construcción de la
nueva Iglesia, pero con la recesión parece que esto ocurrirá durante mi mandato que terminaría en Junio del 2017. Por otro lado,
estoy muy orgulloso del progreso que hemos logrado como comunidad parroquial y de la expansión de nuestra propiedad parroquial. Estoy seguro que, con el continuo apoyo de todos ustedes a la nueva Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús se construirá en
un futuro próximo y espero volver cuando sea dedicada.
Durante estos años he vivido y trabajado y con buenos sacerdotes e internos pastorales. La parroquia ha sido ideal para la formación de seminaristas y nuevos sacerdotes. También he promovido los candidatos necesarios para servir como diáconos, he iniciado
a muchos adultos en la fe, también he formando a nuestros adolecentes como discípulos de Cristo y hemos plantado grandes semillas de fe en nuestros niños. Estoy orgulloso de la maravillosa escuela y su facultad y el increíble personal de la parroquia así como
de tantos voluntarios dedicados a la parroquia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús.
De mis 27 años de ordenado como sacerdote he sido su pastor por 11 años, de lo cual estoy eternamente agradecido por el
amor que he recibido aquí en la Iglesia del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús. A medida que avanzamos en este Año Jubilar de la Misericordia, por favor, oren por mi y la nueva asignación por delante, yo también seguiré orando por ustedes.
Concluyo con la frase de una alabanza Cristiana llamada, “El Honor Más Alto”: “Por mi familia y por mis amigos y por todos aquellos con quienes pase un breve instante. Por Mi y por mi Salvador, todos merecemos—”el más alto honor.”
A mi familia del Sagrado Corazón, Yo le extiendo el más alto honor. Muchas gracias.
Ministry News
Page 4
Sacred Heart School
Mon., April 18: Free dress and treat
for Student & Athlete of the Month
Tues., April 19: Jr. High Social
th
Wed., April 20: 7 grade donates
lunches to St. Vincent de Paul
Thurs., April 21: 6th Grade field trip
to IMAX
Fri., April 22: 1st, 2nd, & 3rd grade
field trip to LPAC at 11am; 1:30pm
Dismissal
2016/2017 school applications are
available in the school office during
office hours. If you have any questions feel free to call the office at 661948-3613
Box tops & Labels: Sacred Heart
School is collecting labels from
Campbell’s products and box tops
for education from General Mills. If
you would like to donate labels and
box tops bring them to the school
office.
Help Support Catholic Education:
Sacred Heart School gives you the
opportunity to support Catholic Education without spending more than
your normal grocery or dining out
budget. How? You can order SCRIP
cards at the school office. SCRIP is
purchased in the form of a gift card
that is easily redeemed when you
shop or dine. Many retailers accept
SCRIP, for example, Albertsons, Red
Lobster, Stater Brothers, BJ's, Vallarta, Red Robin, Vons, Olive Garden, and movie theaters to name a
few.
Youth Nights
Youth Night: Monday, April 18, 6:30-8:30pm, Kennedy Ctr.
Sisters of Strength: Wednesday, April 20, 6:30-8pm. Youth House.
Band of Brothers: Thursday, April 21, 6:30-8pm. Youth House.
Prayer Vigil April 23, 2016
Join the Respect Life Committee of the Antelope Valley on April
23,2016 as we pray and protest at the Planned Parenthood Abortion Clinic located on: 533 E. Palmdale Blvd., CA 93550.
From: 9:00 am to 12:00 noon. For more information regarding
this Pro-Life event call 661-524-6763
Did You Know?
Sacred Heart collects old cell phones as well as empty ink cartridges for recycling in the parish office. The proceeds go to the
Office of Religious Education. They can be dropped off Mon-Sat
between 10am–5pm (lunch from 12-1). Thank you!
Blood Drive Today
Sacred Heart Church will be holding a blood drive on Sunday, April 17
in the Kennedy Center.
Retreat at St. Andrews Abbey
A CELEBRATION OF THE HOLY YEAR OF MERCY
Friday, April 29 - Sunday, May 1, 2016
Pope Francis' kindness, gentleness, and desire for mercy was made evident during his recent visit to Cuba and the United States. Come spend
a weekend discussing and hearing about the direction that he is setting
and his plans to create a more merciful and loving Church that has
room for everyone. For more information call: (661) 944-2178
Presenters: Victoria Dendinger, Ph.D; Obl.OSB & Diana Janas, MSJ;
Obl.OSB
Room, board, and tuition: $250 single; $200 each shared
Ministry News
Page 5
RCITeen Year 2 Rehearsal: Candidates with Sponsor, April 18, 7 PM in Church
First Communion Banners are due on April 20/21
ORE Family Mass, April 30, 5:30 PM
Re-Registration Continues for 2016-2017. Please make any necessary changes on the forms and return
to the ORE office with your deposit of $50.00. Late fee applies after September 1, 2016.
Crowning of Our Lady: May 4/5 during schedule class time. Please, remember to bring her a flower.
First Eucharist Practice and Parent Prayer Experience on May 3, at 5:45 PM, Sign in at the Kennedy
Center for those students receiving First Communion on May 7 at 10 AM.
First Eucharist Practice and Parent Prayer Experience on May 6, at 5:45 PM, Sign in at the Kennedy
Center for those students receiving First Communion on May 7 at 2 PM.
First Eucharist Practice and Parent Prayer Experience on May 10, at 5:45 PM, Sign in at the Kennedy
Center for those students receiving First Communion on May 14 at 10 AM.
First Eucharist Practice and Parent Prayer Experience on May 13, at 5:45 PM, Sign in at the Kennedy
Center for those students receiving First Communion on May 14 at 2 PM.
In the Spotlight
Alice Gutierrez– Office of Religious Education
I have been blessed to be a parishioner at Sacred Heart Church
for 21 years, serve as a catechist for 16 years and be on the Office of Religious Education Staff for 6 years.
As I was growing up my mother was a catechist in the Imperial
Valley. I followed her love of sharing God's Good News. I became a catechist because my daughter, Amanda, said that I knew everything about
God... Wow! So, I began as a volunteer but Dorothy, the Director of Religious Education at the time, had other plans for me. I can honestly say
that I didn't know I had it in me. Now I love to sing, play games, and
use other creative ideas to help the children discover their love for God
and God’s love for them.
The greatest challenge in the ministry of catechizing the youth is
helping families understand that religious education is not a matter of
getting through it and ‘graduating’ or just passing the time, rather it is
about establishing a lifelong relationship of love with God that will last
forever.
Our Parish Family
Safeguard the Children
In recognition of National Child Abuse Prevention
Month, the Archdiocese of Los
Angeles is participating in the
Prevent Child Abuse American
Pinwheel for Prevention campaign. The pinwheel is an uplifting symbol of childhood and
represents every child’s right
for a life filled with hope,
health and happiness. Through
this Campaign we are provided
another opportunity to transform awareness into action. For
more information on how to
have your parish, school or
family be a part of this important campaign, contact
[email protected].
Page 6
Our Lady of Guadalupe 2015 and The Year of Mercy 2016
Grand Raffle
We sold 3,252 tickets
We raised $65,040 for the Building Campaign.
Thanks to all who purchased tickets and contributed
to this fundraising effort….
Your participation helped us exceed our goal!
~~ Congratulations to our winners! ~~
1st Prize—Araceli Martinez
2nd Prize—Samuel Ramos
3rd Prize—Sonia Elizabeth Gomez
Proteger a los Ninos
En reconocimiento del
Mes Nacional para la Prevención del Abuso Infantil, la
Arquidiócesis de Los Ángeles
está participando en la campaña para la Prevención de Abuso
Infantil de América “Remolino
de Prevención”. El remolino es
un símbolo de la infancia y representa el derecho de cada niño
a vivir una vida llena de esperanza, salud y felicidad. A
través de la campaña tenemos
la oportunidad a transformar la
concientización en acción. Para
más información de cómo
lograr que su parroquia, escuela
o familia sean parte de esta importante campaña, contacte
[email protected].
Archdiocesan Council
of Catholic Women
The ACCW Cordially invites
all women of the L.A. Archdiocese to the 12th Annual Mass
honoring Our Mother Mary at
the Cathedral of Our Lady of
the Angels on Tuesday, May 10,
2016. The crowning of the
Blessed Mother will be at
9:50am and Mass will begin at
10:00am. The celebrants will be
Msgr. Kostelnik and Msgr.
Gehl, Spiritual Advisor. Join us
in honoring our Mother.
Vocations Corner
Discernment requires that we
be deliberate about the questions we ask and how we ask
them. Ask for the desire for the
answer. Asking God a question is one thing. Being open to
the answer is another. While
knowing God’s will may seem
desirable, often when it is revealed it is intimidating or unsettling. Begin by asking for the
desire to receive the answer, so
that when it comes you might
embrace it.
Masses for the Week
April 16—April 22, 2016
Saturday
5:30pm
Allison Alvarado, Liv
Sunday
6:45am
Our Lady of Charity
8:00am
Yae & Jim Humm, RIP
9:30am
Mary Jo & Michael Vial, RIP
11:00am
For All Parishioners
12:45pm
Cesar Bustos, RIP
2:30pm
Jesus Zamora, RIP
5:30pm
Christopher Okwudi, Liv
7:00am
Mass of Thanksgiving
5:30pm
Natalie Sebastian, RIP
7:00am
Cresencio Ancheta, Liv
5:30pm
Karen Zontine, RIP
7:00am
HCH Family
5:30pm
Dottie Rydell, RIP
7:00am
William & Esther Kramer, RIP
5:30pm
Leonita Alagar, Liv
7:00am
Joe Jaramillo, RIP
5:30pm
Josephine Chang, RIP
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Please remember in your prayers the sick of
our parish: Melissa Luke, Sunshine Alexan-
Page 7
der, Theodore Maontechelli, Cheri Bertola,
Diane Charters, Jenny & Todd Reed, Lester
Gilbert.
Rest in Peace: Robert Mendelson, Candida
Alvarado, Bernardina Contreras, Nick Napoletano, Mary
Schalow (Mother of Dcn Jason Schalow).
Readings for the Week
Monday: Acts 11:1-18; Ps 42:2-3; 43:3, 4; Jn 10:11-18
Tuesday: Acts 11:19-26; Ps 87:1b-7; Jn 10:22-30
Wednesday: Acts 12:24 - 13:5a; Ps 67:2-3, 5-6, 8;
Jn 12:44-50
Thursday: Acts 13:13-25; Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27;
Jn 13:16-20
Friday:
Acts 13:26-33; Ps 2:6-11ab; Jn 14:1-6
Saturday: Acts 13:44-52; Ps 98:1-4; Jn 14:7-14
Sunday: Acts 14:21-27; Ps 145:8-13; Rv 21:1-5a;
Jn 13:31-33a, 34-35
Today’s Gospel
My sheep hear my voice; they follow me. I give them
eternal life (John 10:27-30).
Evangelio de Hoy
Mis ovejas conocen mi voz; ellas me siguen. Yo les
doy vida eterna (Juan 10:27-30).
Parish Information
Parish Office
Phone: (661) 942-7122 / 942-4830
Fax: (661) 945-4255
Email:
[email protected]
Website: sacredheartlancaster.org
Facebook: Sacred Heart Catholic
Church, Lancaster-CA
Hours: Mon- Sat 10:00am-5:00pm
(closed 12 - 1pm)
Religious Education
Phone: (661) 948-3011
Website: sacredheartore.weebly.com
Download the app: Sacred Heart ORE
Hours: Mon-Thurs 8:00am-5:00pm
(closed 12 - 1pm). Closed Friday.
Sacred Heart School
Phone: (661) 948-3613
Principal: Mr. David Schatz
Website: shsav.org
Hours: Mon - Thurs 7:30am- 3:30pm;
Fri: 7:30am - 2:00pm
Youth Ministries
Phone: (661) 945-8743
Catholics in Action
Confirming Disciples
Hispanic Ministry
Encargado: Heriberto Cayetano
Phone: (661) 942-7853
Hours: Mon - Fri 10:00am - 5:00pm
(closed 12 - 1pm)
Funerals
Please call the parish office 942-7122
Building Campaign
Phone: (661) 947-7122
Website: buildsacredheartchurch.org
Facebook: Build Sacred Heart Church
Deacons
Deacon Greg Halamicek
Deacon Fermin Herrera
Deacon Dale Reynolds
Deacon Ron Routolo
Deacon Jason Schalow
Pastoral Intern: Egren Gomez
Perpetual Adoration
Sunday 7:00pm– Saturday 9:00am
Saturday 7:00pm– Sunday 6:00am
Novena- Tuesday : 6:00pm
Liturgy of the Hours
Weekdays: 5:00pm
Gift Shop
Saturday: 4:00pm –7:00pm
Sunday:7:30am –7:30pm
Closed during Masses
Anointing of the sick/
Ministry to the sick
Please call the parish office to arrange for
anointing for someone who is seriously ill
or preparing for surgery. If ill, homebound
or hospitalized we can visit upon request.
Safeguard the Children
Linda Gonzalez: (661) 949-8890
April 17, 2016
Fourth Sunday of Easter
Youth Ministry Highlights
Below are pictures from the Confirmation liturgy and music practice. Keep them in your prayers as they
prepare to receive a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit as once granted to the apostles on the day of Pentecost.
Bottom left is a picture from the Youth Meeting activity called ‘Sundae Suffering’. The teens played a game and the
winner was asked if he liked ice cream sundaes. He said ‘yes’. Then he was asked, if he liked them so much so that
he would like to become one? He was all set to be made into a sundae and as we were about to start, Daniel stood
up and said "I'll take his place!" At that point we talked about was how Jesus took our place for us!