Church of the Good Shepherd Ash Wednesday February 18, 2015 “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart” Joel 2:12 Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time February 15, 2015 Pastor’s Perspec ve 2 What am I doing for Lent? . . . and you? The world is a mess. Violence is met with violence; hatred with hatred; fear with fear. Ugly polarization seems to characterize every attempt to "deal constructively" with disagreements and conflicts. Accusations abound. Shouting without listening. Taking a hint from pope and saint - both named Francis - I am planning to redouble my effort at addressing the path of understanding with listening and with prayer. One of the turning points in the life of St. Francis was his meeting with Sultan Malek al-Kamil in 1219, at the height of the Fifth Crusade. He expected to convert the Sultan to Christ, and expected to be killed if that did not work. Documentation on the incident is sparse, but more and more research seems to indicate that both men were changed, and at least in small ways, became catalysts for change, howe er small, in the communities they represented. Perhaps this can be a pattern to lead to healing in our own world today. During his visit to the Holy Land last year, Pope Francis invited both presidents of Israel and the Palestinian Authority simply to come and pray with him for peace. The prayer took place in the Vatican Gardens on a beautiful evening, June 8, 2014. The moving video of the event is still available on the Vatican website. Human efforts are not succeeding in bring peace. They never have in all of human history, why should we expect them to now. The question is, how can we, as disciples of Jesus Christ, pray in a way that can lead to our own conversion. We cannot expect a change in others that has not already come about in ourselves. Frankly, I do not know how to do this. But I am committing myself to a kind of prayer and discipline during Lent with the intention of discovering at least some insight. And I intend to share this journey, as far as possible, on my website: http://tomwelbers.net. Please check there if you are interested in following my Lenten journey. Have you decided what your Lenten journey will look like? I just received an invitation to a screening of a new movie In the Footprints of Francis and the Sultan: a Model for Peacemaking, co-produced by Franciscan Media and the USCCB. More information about the movie is at: http://franciscanmedia.org/francissultan/. I will not be able to attend the screening, which is this Thursday at 6:30 pm at Sts. Simon and Jude Church in Irvine, but I plan to order the video, and perhaps have our own screening of it sometime during Lent. If perhaps you'd like to see it on Thursday in Orange County, please contact Sts. Simon and Jude Church for more information, (714) 962-3333. I love you. Fr. Tom Welbers Around the Parish 3 Lenten Fas ng and Abs nence Lenten Events Schedule Ash Wednesday, February 18 Masses: 6:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m.,7:30 p.m. 8:15 a.m. G.S. School Mass 5:30 p.m. - Scripture Service Ashes will be distributed at all services. Sta ons of the Cross - 6:30 p.m. Each Friday during Lent beginning Friday, February 20 Lenten Supper in Good Shepherd Room - 7 p.m. Ash Wednesday (February 18), which is the beginning of the penitential season of Lent, and Good Friday (April 3) are days for fasting and abstinence. In addition, all of the Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence. Abstinence means abstaining from meat, and applies to all Catholics who are at least 14 years old. Fasting applies to all Catholics who are at least 18 years old, but not yet 59. Fasting means that a person can have only one full, meatless meal. Some food can be taken at the other regular meal times if necessary, but combined this food should be less than a full meal. Liquids are allowed at any time, but no solid food should be consumed between meals. In addition to those who are excused because of age, the following people are excused from fasting and abstinence: the physically or mentally ill; individuals suffering from chronic illnesses such as diabetes; and pregnant or nursing women. In all cases, common sense should prevail; and ill persons should not further jeopardize their health by fasting. Each Friday after the Stations beginning Friday, February 20 Financial report for the week ending February 15: Reconcilia on Service Mass Collections - $7,923 Parish Center collections - $ 840 Total received - $8,763 March 24, 7:30 p.m. Please take note: there will be no 5:30 p.m. Mass on Easter Sunday. PARISH OFFICE 504 N Roxbury Drive Beverly Hills, CA 90210 Office: 310.285.5425 Fax: 310.285.5433 gsbh.org Visit us on Facebook: facebook.com/goodshepherdchurch PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday - Friday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Sat. 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Closed on Sundays MASSES Sunday: 8:30 & 10:30 a.m.,12:30 & 5:30 p.m. Saturday: 8 a.m. & 5:30 p.m. Vigil Monday - Friday: 6:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m. Thank you and God bless you for your generosity. CONFESSIONS Friday 11:40 a.m. Saturday 4 - 5 p.m. Other times by appointment. Call the parish office. BAPTISMS ONLY on the 4th Sunday of the month. Please call the Parish Office regarding preparations. No Baptisms during lent. PARISH STAFF Rev. Msgr. Thomas Welbers, Pastor twelbers@gsbh.org Rev. Colm O’Ryan, Pastor Emeritus Rev. George O’Brien, In Residence Deacon Eric Stoltz Michael Caraway, Director of Administration Sr. Virginia Stehly, C.S.J., Director RCIA Joan Vos, Director of Liturgy & Music jvos@gsbh.org Wendy Rappé, Director of Faith Formation Terry Hicks, Organist / Choir Director gsmusicministry@aol.com GOOD SHEPHERD SCHOOL MARRIAGES Please make an appointment with the Pastor six months prior to your wedding date. Grades: Pre-K to 8 148 S. Linden Dr. Beverly Hills, CA 90212 310.275.8601 gsbh.net Danielle Colvert, Principal Lisa Widmann, Vice Principal 4 Spirituality, Prayer and Worship Palms to Ashes We are all invited to bring back our palms, from Palm Sunday last year, to church this weekend, Feb 14-15, and place them in containers that are at all of the entrances of the church. The palms collected will then be burned after the 5:30 PM Mass tonight, Feb 15, and the ashes accumulated will be used on Ash Wednesday, Feb 18th. You are most welcome to join the ceremony of burning the ashes tonight. This will take place on the patio area behind the rectory. Joel 2:12 Scripture Cards and Stones Beginning the weekend of February 21-22, the First Sunday of Lent, there will be scripture cards in the pews available for you to take home as a reminder of this holy season. We are highlighting the first line of the first reading on Ash Wednesday: Joel 2:12, which states: “Even now, says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart.” Beginning on February 18, Ash Wednesday, there will be stones at the entrances of the church which also have this scripture reference named. Both the cards and the stones are ways we will have, in our pockets, purses, cars or homes, to remember to keep our focus on the love of God throughout this holy season. To “return to God” means to come home to God in every day, and in every part of our day. This Lent, let’s remember that “the world is charged with the grandeur of God,” and learn better how to spend our lives in and through that presence. Remember to take home a stone and a scripture card. Happy Lent! Parish Student Choir For students ages 9-14 - Grades 3-8 Rehearsals on Tuesday from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in the Parish Center Office Building, There will be No Rehearsal February 17 Next rehearsal is February 24 The choir will be singing at the Sunday, March 1, Mass at 12:30 p.m. Choir Pizza party after Mass. Before Mass Quiet Contempla on during the Season of Lent All of our lives are so filled with sound, and often noise! The holy season of Lent calls us to simplify our lives so that we can see and hear clearly the love of God that surrounds us. As a means to help us reduce the noise of life, we are all invited to join in five minutes of quiet contemplation, sitting in the presence of God, before every Mass during the season of Lent. The church tradition during the season of Lent has always called each of us to the practices of prayer, fasting and almsgiving. Perhaps these five minutes of contemplation before Mass would be a prime opportunity to fulfill the call to prayer as one of your Lenten promises this year. Why not consider coming to Mass early during this holy season, and join others in your parish family in these five minutes of quiet prayer before Mass? Date Change: Tuesdays with Mary, February 24, 7 - 8:30 p.m. Mary Mother of God Our Blessed Mother for Everyday Earthly Living: Untying the Strong Woman These monthly Tuesday sessions will be an opportunity for participants to connect with the holiness of God, in and through Mary, the Mother of God. The group on Tuesday will be discussing, “The Flight into Egypt.” For further information please contact Joan Vos at (310) 285-5425. Sunday 5:30 p.m. Mass Small Ensemble Would you consider joining Sunday 5:30 p.m. small ensemble? We rehearse on Sundays at 4:30 p.m. in church and then lead the music at the Mass immediately following. It is not a heavy time commitment and loads of fun! Good people and new friendships await you! Call Joan Vos at the parish office, 310.285.5425 to add your name to the roster, or if you have any further questions. 5 Educa on and Forma on RCIA News Our Catechumens and Candidates are ready for the Rite of Election or Enrollment of Names. This will take place on Saturday, February 21 at the 5:30 p.m. Mass. This step is called election because with the testimony of their godparents, catechists, and RCIA Team, you the Church judges they are ready to advance to the Sacraments of Initiation. They will inscribe their names in the book that lists those who have been chosen for Initiation. They will be on retreat Saturday afternoon in preparation for this rite. Please pray for them ~ they count on your love, prayers, and support. As of this day they will be known as the elect. Los Angeles Religious Educa on Congress 2015 Join us March 12, (Youth Day), March 13 - 15, 2015 at the Anaheim Convention Center for the 2015 Religious Education Congress. If you have never before attended Congress, you are assured of a wonderful experience. All are welcome to attend! The Congress, sponsored by the Office of Religious Education at the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, offers a variety of opportunities for personal faith enrichment, prayer and entertainment. We offer 310 workshops, covering topics of interest from spirituality and personal development to biblical studies, theology and catechesis - there is a topic of interest for you. In addition to workshops, participants will enjoy morning praise, evening liturgies and a variety of noon time and evening concerts. Come and be renewed by these Congress experiences. Register now for this spirit-filled and enriching weekend! You may access the book online and register by visiting www.RECongress.org. To obtain a Registration Guidebook contact your religious education office at your parish or call the RECongress information line at 213.637.7348. Married Couples...prepare your hearts for Easter in a special way! Experience a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend this Lent and return with a refreshed relationship, full of hope and joy. Renew your Sacrament and love now! Our next weekend is March 20-22 in Torrance. We strongly encourage signups by February 20 to reserve your spot! Learn more about us! Visit www.ilovemyspouse.net to apply or contact Sarah & Jacob Flores at 562.923.7335 or Ginny & Boon Hazboun at 562.760.6277. Friday, March 27 It’s Movie Night! The Good Shepherd Confirmation Teens are sponsoring a movie night, with FOOD!, to raise awareness and money for the Freeman Foundation. The event will be Friday, March 27, 7:30 p.m. at the Good Shepherd School. Please support our young people in their efforts to make a difference. Tickets are on sale at the church entrance. It’s a great movie! Inspirational for all ages! Here is the Freeman Foundation info: http://www.travisfreeman.org/about-the-foundation/ Interested In The Catholic Church? Have you been thinking about becoming a Catholic or you just know God may be knocking at you heart? What if I’m Baptized but would like to complete my Sacraments of Eucharist and Confirmation - is this night for me also? Yes, we welcome each and all of you. This is a night for your questions, your concerns. The door is always open and God waits to see you. Inquiry Nights continue on Mondays March 16. For more information please call Sr. Virginia at 310.285.5425 Banns of Marriage We have been requested by Most Holy Rosary Parish in the Philippines to publish the banns of marriage for Michael Vincent Casino and Alain Krizia Bosita, both of Good Shepherd Parish who are seeking to be married in the Philippines. If anyone knows of any canonical impediment to this marriage, please contact the parish office. 6 Outreach, Service and Social Jus ce White Elephant/Book Sale Our annual fund-raiser for Get on the Bus is scheduled for the weekend of March 6 - 7 after each Mass. This is a good time to start an early Spring cleaning, sort through what you haven't used in a while (or will never use) and donate these items to help us transportation funds. Start bringing your donated items, such as usable clothes, pots and pans, electronics, trinkets and books, to the church office or parish hall. Thank you for continued support of the Get on the Bus Program! Mark your calendar... Get on the Bus Mother's Day Card Sale - April 25 – 26 & May 2 – 3 Get on the Bus Volunteers! You are invited to attend a reception on Sunday, February 22. We will gather in the Parish Hall immediately after the 12:30 p.m. Mass. Come and meet your new Bus Coordinators: Betty Nguyen and Melanie Overby, assisted by David Trevino. In addition to thanking you for your continued volunteer service, we will organize schedules for the upcoming fund raisers that have been planned. Please email David at dtrevino@gsbh.org if you plan to attend the reception, so that refreshments can be arranged accordingly. For more info on Get on the Bus, visit their website: getonthebus.us Cantribu on Sunday: February 28 & March 1 Let’s Go Over The Top! Help Create a Needy Family’s New Home Habitat for Humanity is an amazing organization that works with financially challenged families to provide a hand up into home ownership. Each family works on their home as well as is trained in budgeting, fiscal responsibility and home upkeep, and has a mortgage they will repay. We have the opportunity to organize a group to work on a house in Lynwood or Long Beach, but we need a team of at least 25 volunteers (16 or older) and a group leader. We will construct part of someone’s house — we could be roofing, painting or doing landscaping — it’s whatever they need done at that point in the build. But don’t panic — there will be experts there to guide you if you’ve never put up drywall! It is a very physical 8 - 3:30 day — but one that’s also Very Rewarding! Saturdays are available in April if we can get a committed team pulled together (date is flexible). If you might be interested in being a group leader or in volunteering for this wonderful outreach project, please contact outreach@gsbh.org as soon as possible. If enough interested folks respond, we will have a brief meeting to begin to work out details. Please bring your bag of nonperishable goods to the Parish Hall or the Parish Office by this Wednesday, March. 4 to help those in need. Items needed are: canned goods of all kinds, fruits, bags of rice, beans, vegetables, pastas, tuna, fruit juices, baby food, diapers, peanut butter, jam/jelly, breakfast cereals, toiletries for men and women, boxes of items to be put in lunch bags for children. Thank you for caring and for your loving generosity. Beverly Hills Meals on Wheels !!Volunteers Needed!! Did you know the leadership of this group said, “We get the Best Help from Good Shepherd and they are “The Most Dependable.” The BH Meals on Wheels needs You! To do what: Drive and deliver meals to Homebound Seniors in the area. Time & Days: 10:15 a.m. - 12 p.m. Monday - Friday, You can choose your day or days you wish to help. For more information please call Pat Jacobson at 310.423.3517. Community Life 7 Prime Genera on 3rd Annual Pot Luck Oscar Party 2015 It is on Sunday, February 22 at 3:30 p.m. Space is limited, so please RSVP by Thursday, February 19 by filling out & submitting the form at: http://goo.gl/77wcai. Remember to indicate what dish you will be bringing and how many people your dish will serve. Beverages are always plentiful, so let's concentrate on the bites! You will receive a confirmation notice after completing your RSVP Form and the location details will be emailed to you Friday, February 20. (To protect the privacy of our hostess, this information is only for your use; please do not share this information with anyone else). See you on the red carpet! We Are Family! At special times, which are coming up soon, members of our church family who do not regularly come to pray with us will be here, and will further enliven our prayer and add to the energy and activity in the church. Two of these days specifically are Ash Wednesday, February 18, and Easter Sunday, April 5. We would like to be prepared for this extra influx of prayer and energy in the most hospitable way that we can be. Therefore, we are inviting anyone who is able to greet at the doors of the church on either or both of these two days to contact Joan Vos in the Parish Center. We especially encourage students, and families with children, single parents, single people, or couples. Come and join the fun and bring your smiles and open hearts. Let's make Good Shepherd the most hospitable church on the planet! The Divorced and Separated Support Group Aves of Beverly Hills We meets every third Thursday of the month. The next meeting will be February 19 at 7 PM at the Parish Center. Please feel free to join us for information, support, and community. For more information call Rebecca 310.402.6385. Meeting Monday, February 16, 2015. Mass 12:05 p.m. followed by catered luncheon in Good Shepherd Room. Speaker will be Sr. Viola Ramirez, Sr. of the Tijuana Diocese and lives San Diego and ministers to the inmates of Tijuana prison. All are welcome attend the only charge is for the lunch $20. Reservations call Mary Lou Stack 310.843.9329. Requested Mass Inten ons Monday, February 16 12:05 p.m. Thomas Middelhoff Tuesday, February 17 6:30 a.m. Ike Ikediashi - (D) 12:05 p.m. Genoveva Recto - (D) Wednesday, February 18 Ash Wednesday Thursday, February 19 6:30 a.m. Dr. Cezar Herrin - (D) 12:05 p.m. Shen-Urquidez Family Friday, February 20 12:05 p.m. Thomas Niddelhoff Saturday, February 21 8 a.m. Peter Ciani - (D) 5:30 p.m. Patnubay Sta. Ana - (D) Thomas Middelhoff Events Planner for the Parish Enjoy planning events for the Parish such as potlucks, dance night, game nights, barbecues, holiday events - the possibilities are wide open. - You meet other people and make new friends - When event is over, you have a great sense of satisfaction - You bring out the best in each other, because you use the talents God gave you For more information, please contact Sr. Virginia at vstehly@gsbh.org or call 310.285.5425. 8 Good Shepherd School Faith. Academics. Service. This week, the Murder Mystery Dinner (left) took place, as well as the Father-Daughter Dance (Right) Below are pictures from 3rd Grade Mass. GSBH "It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be ground down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human & more fraternal.” Pope John Paul II 148 S. LINDEN DRIVE BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90212 / TEL 310.275.8601 / WWW.GSBH.NET 9 Banquet of the Word Prepare to celebrate next Sunday's Mass by reading, studying and praying Scripture Readings Please note that what's printed below are not the Scripture Readings for this day, but a commentary on the Scripture to help you read and understand them. Please refer to the Scripture passages in your own Bible. First Sunday of Lent Next Sunday, February 22, 2015 THE TIME OF FULFILLMENT Gospel: Mark 1:12-15 Mark’s is the Gospel that begins to consider Jesus as the Messiah with the bap sm in the Jordan (1:1-11). Being the first Gospel set to wri ng, it reflects the earliest preaching of the Apostles, which was concerned only with Jesus’ ministry, not his pre-history (see Acts 10:38). Later Gospels searched for his roots in earlier events. The bap sm is a sign of Jesus’ full immersion into the human condi on (v 9), and he emerges as the open channel between God and humanity, signified by the image of the par ng heavens (vv 10-11). The tempta on in the desert (vv 12-13), covered very briefly in Mark (see the fuller accounts, showing later developments, in Mt 4:1-11 and Lk 4:1-13 — they are commented upon in the First Sunday of Lent, Years A and C), forms the pivot between the bap sm and the beginning of his ministry. Aware of his power as Messiah, being fully divine as well as human, the very human tempta ons to misuse or shortcut his mission would provide the material for a major struggle. Would he fully accept the human condi on — and thus allow God to become fully one with us — or would he use God’s power for selfish ends: to sa sfy purely material needs, to evade death, or to a ract a huge following? Our salva on hangs upon his freely willed fidelity as man to the Word-of-God-made-flesh that he is. He emerges from the struggle victorious in new strength, proclaiming the coming of the kingdom — the new and full rela onship between God and humankind — and its requirements: a change of heart and faith (vv 14-15). First Reading: Genesis 9:8-15 Chris an tradi on has always seen the flood as an image of the "waters of bap sm that make an end of sin and a new beginning of goodness" (Rite of Bap sm, Blessing of the Water). Both aspects of destruc on and new life are conveyed in the flood story. As sin is destroyed, so new life comes forth, borne up on the same water. The flood is not simply a chance event or the amusement of a capricious god; it is the result of humanity’s sinfulness. But in the midst of this catastrophe, the saving will of God is at work, and the basic goodness of crea on and of humankind is reaffirmed in the covenant God makes with Noah. Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 Of all God’s works, the greatest are forgiveness and mercy, for in this way he brings his crea on to fulfillment. Response: "Your ways, O Lord, are love and truth, to those who keep your covenant." Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22 Most commentators consider 1 Peter an early bap smal instruc on in which the Chris an life is described for new converts as to its meaning and obliga ons. This passage quotes a simple formula of faith in Christ: "Jesus died to flesh and rose to the spirit (v 18); he descended to the realm of the dead (v 19), and went to heaven at God’s right hand in power (v 22)." The author adds a footnote comparing the bap sm that the new Chris ans now experience with the flood of Noah’s me (vv 20-21). The descent into hell (= the realm of the dead) seems to signify Christ’s lordship over all crea on without excep on — even the underworld — and allows the good news of salva on to be proclaimed to those who had gone before. QuesƟons for thought, discussion, and prayer: 1. Lent originated as the Ɵme of preparaƟon for the celebraƟon of bapƟsm, and the restored Rite of ChrisƟan IniƟaƟon of Adults has brought this significance back into the forefront of the Church’s celebraƟon of this season. How can this influence your understanding and pracƟce of Lent now? 2. Discuss the role of temptaƟon in the ChrisƟan life. What is it, and what purpose does it serve? 12 Parish Calendar For complete calendar: http://goo.gl/Z3i8ep A Week At A Glance / Sunday, February 15, – Sunday, February 22, 2015 February Time Sunday, 15 8:30, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 5:30 p.m. TIM 8:30 - 2 p.m. Commitment At the 10:30 a.m. Mass Monday, 16 6:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m. Parish Office 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Closed 12- 3 p.m. Tuesday, 17 6:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m. 12:45 - 1:15 p.m. 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. 7- 8 p.m. Wednesday, 18 6:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m. 8:15 - 9:15 a.m. Ash Wednesday 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. 7 - 9 p.m. 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. Thursday, 19 6:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m. 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. 7 - 8:30 p.m. 7 - 9 p.m. 7 - 9 p.m. Friday, 20 6:30 a.m., 12:05 p.m. 7 - 9 a.m. 11:40 a.m. 6:30 - 7p.m. 7 - 9 p.m. Saturday, 21 8 - 8:30 a.m. 9 - 10 a.m. 9 - 10:30 a.m. 10 - 11:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. 2 - 4 p.m. 4 - 5 p.m. 5:30 - 6:30 p.m. Sunday, 22 8:30, 10:30 a.m., 12:30, 5:30 p.m. 8:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. 1st Sunday of 12:30 - 1:30 p.m. Lent 2 - 3 p.m. 2 - 4 p.m. 22 Event Sunday Masses Coffee & Donuts Children’s Liturgy of the Word Mass G.S. School Spring Musical Rehearsal AVES Mee ng Mass Rosary No Parish Student Choir Medita on Mass School Mass Liturgy of the Word with Ashes RCIA Session Ash Wednesday Mass Mass Medita on Divorced and Separated Support Group Teen Confirma on Choir Rehearsal Mass Martha's Kitchen (Volunteers) Confessions Sta ons of the Cross Lenten Supper Mass Medita on G.S. Religious Educa on Scripture Study G.S. Bereavement Group VIRTUS Training Confessions Mass: Rite of Sending for Elec on Sunday Masses Coffee & Donuts Mass GOTB Volunteer Mee ng VIRTUS Training Facility Church Parish Hall Parish Hall - Small Rm Church Parish Hall Good Shepherd Room Church Sacred Heart Chapel Conference Room 3 Sacred Heart Chapel Church Church Church Parish Hall Church Church Sacred Heart Chapel Conference Room 3 Good Shepherd Room Parish Hall Church Parish Hall Church Church Good Shepherd Room Church Sacred Heart Chapel School Good Shepherd Room Conference Room 1 Good Shepherd Room Church Church Church Parish Hall Church Parish Hall Good Shepherd Room Can’t find your checkbook or envelope Sunday morning? Join the parishioners who are using Faith Direct for automated giving to Church of the Good Shepherd. It is secure, convenient and Faith Direct will provide you an offertory card to place in the basket during the collections. There is no cost to you, and the program provides a great benefit to our parish. Sign up today by visiting www.faithdirect.net, our parish code is CA461.