April 2, 2006 BulletinFIFTH SUNDAY IN
LENT
April 2, 2006 Week of Apr. 3, 2006 - Apr. 9, 2006 I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts; I will be their God, and they shall be my people. --Jeremiah 13:33 Today's Readings Readings for the Week Priest Intentions for the Week Lent, Holy Week, & Easter Announcements --Parish ----School of Faith and Formation ----Youth Ministry and Confirmation ----Other Parish Announcements --Diocese --Community Finances Today's Readings First Reading -- I will place my law within them and write it upon their hearts. (Jeremiah 31:31-34). Psalm -- Create a clean heart in me, O God (Psalm 51). Second Reading -- Christ became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him (Hebrews 5:7-9). Gospel -- Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there also will my servant be (John 12:20-33). THE NEW COVENANT When the prophet Jeremiah coined the term "new covenant" he was actually doing something quite radical. For the Jewish people, there was only one covenant, the one made between the Lord God and Israel through Moses at Mount Sinai. For Jeremiah to suggest that God would somehow supersede the covenant with a new one would have sounded audacious to Jewish ears. But in this way he is a predecessor of Jesus who, in the Gospel of John, is continually portrayed as superseding the past, establishing the reign of God in a new way. And in today's Gospel passage, Jesus the "new covenant" speaks the language of his "new commandment" of love when he tells of the dying grain of wheat, and of our own need to die to self in order to be raised with Christ. As Lent ends and we prepare to enter into Holy Week, the dying grain of wheat serves as an excellent symbol of the kind of dying and self-sacrifice to which disciples are called, a symbol of that new covenant written deep within our hearts. (c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co. TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION As we approach Holy Week, the creative juices of the ancient church of Jerusalem begin to shape our journey. In old Jerusalem at this season of the year, the attempt was made to recall the events leading up to Christ's passion. Those attempts were based not only on time, with celebrations of events as close to the day and hour as possible, but also on people's best guesses as to the actual place of these events. Vast numbers of pilgrims flooded the city during the forty days of Lent, many of them catechumens in their last stages of preparation for initiation. The fourth-century Spanish nun Egeria wrote a delightfully detailed diary of her experience of this lively and aerobic liturgy, which involved hearty singing, strong preaching, and nimble processions across vast and arduous terrain. Much of this energy was lost over the centuries, with the procession of palms a noteworthy exception. Northern climates had to reinterpret this Jerusalem liturgy, using forsythia, willow, or olive branches, but to this day the entry into Holy Week by a community on the move accompanied by joyful song hearkens back to a venerable tradition. Egeria's letters were rediscovered a little more than a hundred years ago, but they reveal a pattern of prayer: full, conscious, active participation, to which we have a right and a duty. --James Field, (c) Copyright, J. S. Paluch Co. Readings for the Week
Priest Intentions
Lent, Holy Week, & Easter Stations of the Cross & Prayer on Fridays of Lent The Stations of the Cross is a series of fourteen images portraying incidents in Christ's journey from His condemnation by Pilate to His being laid in the tomb. Essential to this devotion, whether prayed by an individual or a group, is meditation of the Passion of the Lord. Come and See! Experience the Stations of the Cross with Taize Prayer and music every Friday of Lent at 7:30 pm. Labyrinth: Journey of Prayer Monday, April 10 through Wednesday, April 12 in the Parish Hall For thousands of years people have constructed labyrinths, or sacred paths, as models of their life journey. Labyrinths are used as a meditative and spiritual tool, as a way to connect larger eternities of life, as a journey into self and back to the world. Labyrinths are also symbols, combining static completeness of a circle with a spiral path of dynamic change. For Christians and others, walking a labyrinth represents a connection to an ancient spiritual tradition, one that is both deeply personal, and broadly universal. A labyrinth has only one path. It is impossible to become physically lost in a labyrinth. There are also no choices to make in a labyrinth, nor forks in the road, thus walking a labyrinth removes the pressures of decisions for a brief time, and permits concentration on a more passive, more present way of being. The only choice is whether or not to come walk this spiritual path, to trust that this path will take you where you need to go. Come walk a while in prayer. All it offers is what you bring to it; all it takes is a step. Lenten Observance: Fasting & Abstinence All Fridays of Lent are days of abstinence from meat and meat products. This law obliges everyone who is fourteen years (14) of age and older. Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of fast and abstinence (one full meal, two lesser meals, no meat, no eating between meals). The law on fasting obliges all persons who are between the ages of eighteen (18) and fifty-nine (59). Easter Vigil Choir 2006 Schola Cantorum/ 8 am choir would like to extend an invitation to join them for the EASTER VIGIL CELEBRATION on Saturday, April 15th. Practice will be every Tuesday, 8:00 pm in the Church. Those interested need to attend all practices. Lent, Holy Week, & Easter Schedule of Services Lenten Communal Reconciliation Service Tuesday, April 4, 2006 at 7:30 pm Palm Sunday April 8 to 9, 2006 Mass begins at Parish Hall Amphitheater (outside the new social hall) with Blessing of Palms Saturday, 5:00 pm Sunday 8:00 am, 10:00am, 12:00 noon, 6:00 pm Labyrinth Prayer Monday, April 10 to Wednesday, April 12 in Parish Hall Holy Thursday: Mass of the Lord's Supper Thursday, April 13 at 7:30 pm: Washing of the Feet Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament at the Altar of Repose following Mass Night Prayer at 11:45 pm Good Friday: Celebration of the Lord's Passion Friday, April 14 * Taize Stations of the Cross at 12:00 noon * Live Stations of the Cross at 3:00 pm * Liturgy & Veneration of the Cross at 7:30 pm Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil Mass Saturday, April 15 at Sundown - 7:30 pm (Mass begins at the Parish Hall Amphitheatre, outside the new social hall) * Procession of the Light * Old Testament Readings * Easter Alleluia * Renewal of Baptismal Promises * Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist of the Elect and Candidates (RCIA & RCIC) Easter Sunday Sunday, April 16 Masses: 8:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:00 PM Announcements School of Faith & Formation First Communion We Live - This week the young people of the parish preparing for Eucharist are reflecting on the First Pentecost and the gift of the Holy Spirit. Reborn of the Holy Spirit, all the baptized have been called and empowered to live as true witnesses of Christ and to spread the faith by word and deed. How are we as a parish living as disciples and followers of Jesus? Faith Formation Lenten Stewardship We would like to encourage all Faith Formation (CCD) students to bring their Operation Rice Bowl box or envelope to the 12 noon Easter Family Mass and put them in the baskets on the sanctuary steps during Offertory. Easter Family Mass You are all invited to the Family Mass on Easter Sunday, April 16 at 12:00 noon. There will be no Children's Choir for this celebration. Children's choir rehearsals have been cancelled. Faith Formation (CCD) Holidays Holy Week, April 10-15 -- NO CLASSES Easter Break, April 17-22 -- NO CLASSES Classes resume at regular scheduled time on Monday, April 24. Youth Ministry and Confirmation Youth Ministry: A Change in Schedule St. Anne Youth Ministry will meet on Wednesday instead of Monday next week. So, no meeting on Monday. We will meet Wednesday, April 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. The topic of our meeting: The Final Days of Lent! Confirmation Confirmation candidates are reminded that we will gather at 7:45 a.m. on Saturday, April 8 at the Union City BART station for our class service project. Parents should plan to pick up their candidates at the Union City BART station at 6:00 p.m. Our next class is on Sunday, April 9 at 3:30 pm in the new social hall. Other Parish Announcements Easter Bulletin All articles for the Easter Sunday (April 16) bulletin, need to be in the parish office by Friday, April 7 at 12:00 noon. Lectors' Schedule Lectors: Please pick up your new lectors' schedule in the church. 2005 Sunday Contributions Please contact the parish office at 471-7766 if you would like a statement of your 2005 Sunday contributions to the Church for your income tax reports. Leave your name, address, and phone number with the office staff and the statement will be mailed to you. Thank you for your continued support of St. Anne Parish. St. Anne Senior Group The St. Anne Senior Group will be meeting on Sunday, April 2, 1:30 pm in classroom #104. If you are 55 years young (GOLDEN year plus 5), we want you, we need you! "Safely Home" - Bereavement Grief Support Bereavement Grief Support Ministry Meetings are held twice a month on Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 pm meeting Room # 101. For information please contact, Roseann Langley, 510 471-6545 or Email Viinbur@aol.com . Meetings for April are: April 5 and April 19. Divine Mercy Novena The Divine Mercy Apostolate would like to invite everyone to please join us for the 9 day Novena of the Divine Mercy beginning April 14-April 22 in preparation for the Feast of the Divine Mercy Sunday, April 23. Novena prayer book and schedule will be distributed on April 8 & 9 after each Mass. St. Anne Spring Dance Tickets are now on sale for the Saturday, April 29th Spring Dance to be held in our Social Hall, 6:30 - 11:30 pm. Tickets are $25.00 for adults and $10.00 For children 13 and under. Eucharistic Ministers Spiritual Growth Seminar The Spiritual Growth Seminar for all Eucharistic Ministers will be held on Wednesday, Saturday, May 13 at 9:30 am. The seminar will be in the parish Social Hall. If you missed the seminar that was held on March 22, you need to attend one on May 13th. St. Anne's CYO Track and Field All boys and girls are invited to participate in St. Anne's CYO Track and Field program. Children in grades K-8 are encouraged to participate, the older the child is, the more track and field events there are to participate in. If you are interested, please contact Yvette Black @ 510-429-1790, or you may pick up a registration form in the Parish office. We are still looking for someone to assist in coaching, if you have some time to share, and can help, please contact Yvette Black. Daylight Savings Time Reminder: Set your clocks forward by one hour on Saturday night, April 1. Diocese Announcements Marriage Encounter Discover the hidden treasure in your marriage. Attend a weekend seminar, "Marriage in Filipino Perspective" on June 3-4 at the Hilton Hotel, Concord. To register, call 510-825-8782 or 510-785-5629. Community Announcements Friends of the Society Breakfast The Society of St. Vincent de Paul of Alameda County is pleased to announce our Second Annual Friends of the Society Breakfast, an event to benefit homeless and low-income people. Wednesday, April 5, 8:30 - 9:30 am, at the SVdP Free Dining Room, 675 23rd Street, Oakland. For more info. call, 510-636-4261. Tax Assistance For Senior Citizens Volunteers from the AARP (American Association of Retired Persons) will offer free tax help for seniors with middle and low incomes. Assistance will be available on Mondays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm starting February 6 - April 17. Appointments must be made in advance at the Union City Library's reference desk or by calling 510-745-1464, ext. 7. The Union City Library, a branch of the Alameda County Library is located at 34007 Alvarado-Niles Road and is wheelchair accessible. An ASL interpreter is available with at least seven days notice. Holy Spirit Preschool (Fremont) Holy Spirit Preschool currently has openings in the following programs. Monday through Friday either full day or part time. Children must be between 3-5 years old and fully potty-trained. We are also taking enrollment for various summer camps and for our 2006-2007 school year. To join our spiritual environment please contact Liana Morales @510-793-2113. St. Joachim's Summer School Program (Hayward) Do you want a fun educational program for your child this summer? St. Joachim's is offering a summer school program June 19-July 14 for all students currently in grades K-5. Extended Care will also be offered. Brochures with registration forms are available at the school office and the rectory. Call 510-783-3177 for more information or drop by the school office to pick up a brochure and registration form. We are located at 21250 Hesperian Blvd., Hayward. Open House on Islam "From Islamic Spirituality to International Issues" everyone is invited to the "open house", Saturday, April 8, 11am-1pm, Weekes Library, 27300 Patrick Ave., Hayward. Sponsored by the Interfaith America Islamic Academy Coffee and snacks will be served. For more information, 510-677-4488 or email Drkoya@hotmail.com . Finances Weekly Collections March 26, 2006
SCRIP Program We are shutting down the SCRIP Program, the supplier has gone bankrupt and the program is longer making a profit. There are a few certificates left in the inventory (Ranch 99, Macys, OfficeMax, Pizza Hut, Rose Garden). We thank everyone for their support of this program. If you shop at Albertson's and do not have a Community Card, pick one up in the SCRIP room after one of the Masses. All proceeds from this fund-raiser go toward the "Building Our Future" project. Home: |