st. thomas more church - St. Thomas More Catholic Church

ST. THOMAS MORE CHURCH
2510 So. Fremont Avenue, Alhambra, CA 91803
(626) 284-8333 Website: stmcatholicalhambra.org
Sunday, February 21, 2016
EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS WEEKLY LITURGIES
Saturday Vigil
5:00PM
Reconciliation
Saturday: 4:00-4:45PM
Sunday
7:30AM, 9:00AM, 12:30PM
10:45AM Spanish
English
Daily: Mon-Sat
8:30AM
Holy Day Masses
8:30AM, 7:00PM
Please contact the Parish Office for arrangements regarding
Baptisms, Sacrament of Matrimony, and Funerals
PARISH OFFICE HOURS
Monday-Thursday 9:00AM - 7:30PM
Friday
9:00AM - 7:00PM
Saturday
9:00AM - 1:00PM
Closed 1:00 - 2:00PM
Closed 1:00 - 2:00PM
PARISH STAFF
Office: (626) 284-8333 Fax: (626) 282-4459
Mission Statement
We, the faith community of Saint Thomas More
Catholic church are called by God the Father, through
the guidance of the Holy Spirit to live lives inspired by
Jesus Christ.
We aspire to be a welcoming community with full,
active, and joyful participation in the celebration of the
Holy Eucharist. We are dedicated to grow in spirituality, to nurture and guide our children and youth, to
reach out and address the needs of other communities
around us.
Nuestra Misión
Nosotros, la comunidad de fe de la iglesia Católica
Saint Thomas More estamos llamados por Dios Padre,
por medio de la guía del Espíritu Santo, a vivir vidas inspiradas en Jesucristo.
Aspiramos a ser una comunidad acogedora y que
participa de forma plena, activa, y gozosa en la celebración de la Santa Eucaristía. Estamos dedicados a crecer
en espiritualidad, a educar y guiar a nuestros niños y
jóvenes, y a reconocer y atender las necesidades de otras
comunidades a nuestro alrededor.
Administrator: Fr . Er asmus Sor iano
(ext. 116) frerassoriano@gmail.com
Pastor Emeritus: Rev. J er emiah O’Neill
Deacon Couple: Rogelio and Emilia Gar cia
rogelio.emilia@hotmail.com (626) 705-1072
Pastoral Associate: Sr . Mar gar et Devlin, SSC
LMFT/Counseling (ext. 112) mdevlin_stm@hotmail.com
Safeguard the Children Contact: Mae Ho
(ext. 139) or (626) 457-5302 stmdrealhambra@gmail.com
Director of Religious Education: Mae Ho
(ext. 139) or (626) 457-5302 stmdrealhambra@gmail.com
Liturgy & Music Coordinator: Sr . Andr ea J ohnson
(ext. 137) stmmusiclit@gmail.com
Accounting Manager: Lucy Lai
(ext. 110) acct_stm@yahoo.com
Youth Ministry & Confirmation Coordinator: Fr ancisco Ramos
stmlifeteenymc@gmail.com
Assistant Coordinator: Gabr iella Ramos (ext. 135)
Parish Secretary: Tess Water s
(ext. 141) stm_secretary@live.com
Parish Receptionist: Mimi Lewis
SCHOOL STAFF
School Office: (626) 284-5778 Fax: (626) 284-3303
Admin. Team: J udy J ones and Ver onica Rodr iguez, (ext. 28)
Secretary: Mar y Helen Lazo, (ext. 29)
School Website: stthomasmor ealhambr a.or g
School Email: stthomasmor e@ear thlink.net
Second Sunday of Lent
February 21, 2016
Page 2
Administrator’s Corner
Are you Listening?
Second Sunday of Lent
This Sunday’s gospel tells us of the transfiguration of Jesus before his selected disciples,
Peter, James and John. The vision of Jesus
changed in appearance is such a great consolation for Peter and
his companions. Peter was so fascinated by this wonderful experience that he wanted to stay at the mountain and prolong it. He
proposed the idea of building three tents to Jesus. “Master, it is
good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for
Moses, and one for Elijah.” Peter’s suggestion is immediately
followed by the descent of the cloud. In Scripture, a cloud is a
sign of God’s presence. A voice came down from heaven saying: “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” The spoken message by God the Father serves as a guide for us throughout this
forty- day journey of Lent.
“This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” Lent is an opportune
time to listen to Jesus. Are we giving Jesus sufficient time to
speak to us? Perhaps we may wonder: Does God really speak to
us? When? How? God is speaking to us all the time. He speaks in
his Holy Word (Scriptures) during the mass, in the teaching of the
Church, through the circumstances of daily life, in the persuasion
of our conscience, in the needs of those whom we encounter along
the way.
This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” The key word here is
“Listen”. If we want to get the most of what Lent is offering to us
such as growing in holiness, sincere and true conversion, a wellmeaningful celebration of Easter, we need to listen to Jesus. By
“listening”, it means opening not only our ears to the voice of the
Lord but also opening our hearts. To listen is to obey. It is not
enough for us to listen to the voice of the Lord. Listening can only
be complete when we are willing to obey him. Many of us are not
willing to obey Jesus it is because we fail to listen. .
This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” To be able to listen to
God speaking to us, we must learn to be silent. God’s voice speaks
most often in silence. In and around us, there is difficulty to find
time for silence. We live in a noisy and busy world. Our busyness
with our day-to-day schedule prevents us from finding time for
silence. Our daily preoccupations, concerns and worries, sometimes distract us from having a moment of silence. Watching television or listening to radio occupies our time that we find no time
for prayer.
This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” To be able to listen
to the voice of Jesus, we must learn to set aside time for prayer. Turn off the radio and the TV and create times of silence in
our day. Keep some part of our day free from all the noise and
voices of men and other human distraction and craving for they
hinder inner peace.
At times, our choices and decisions are not right because we
fail to listen to the Lord. At times, it is not the voice of the Lord
that we want to listen but to our own voice. We do not want to
listen to him because we want to live our lives in our own way.
We close our hearts and minds from his voice because we are
afraid, he may lead us to something we are not comfortable with.
We fail to open our ears and hearts to him because he is asking us
to change something in our life.
This is my chosen Son, listen to him.” Are we listening? If we
are, whose voice are we listening to? Is it the voice of the Lord, or
the voice of the world, or our own voice? This season of Lent, let
us open our ears and hearts to the voice of God. If we do, we are
in for a blessing!
¡Si Podemos!
Primer Domingo de Cuaresma
El Miércoles pasado, comenzamos la temporada de Cuaresma con
la imposición de la ceniza en nuestra frente. Miércoles de Ceniza es
el comienzo de nuestros 40 días de viaje y de preparación para la
Pascua. La Cuaresma nos invita a entrar en un camino espiritual de
renovación y conversión.
El evangelio del primer Domingo de Cuaresma nos lleva a una de
las realidades que habitualmente hemos experimentado en nuestras
vidas espiritual y humana: La Tentación. Oímos desde el Evangelio
de Jesús guiado por el espíritu en el desierto de pasar cuarenta días.
Tres veces fue tentado por el diablo pero pudo superarlos. ¿Por qué
Jesús fue llevado en el desierto? En el desierto, prácticamente no hay
lugar donde esconderse, sin escudo. Hay bestias salvajes alrededor,
ninguna fuente de agua, no hay lugar para conseguir comida. Las
dificultades en el desierto, llevar a cabo lo que es el interior de una
persona: el hambre y la sed. En el desierto, se pondrá a prueba la
capacidad y la voluntad de una persona para sobrevivir. El desierto
produce el verdadero carácter de un hombre. Jesús fue llevado por el
espíritu para poner a prueba su fuerza, voluntad y firmeza cuando se
enfrenta a las tentaciones. El hecho de que Jesús es probado por el
diablo revela que Él es también el 100% humano. Jesús tiene las
mismas debilidades, luchas, dudas y temores y deseos que tenemos.
Las tentaciones son reales. Vienen con la apariencia de buen aparentemente. Ellos están entrelazados con buenas intenciones. Ellos son
difíciles y engañosas. Uno tiene que ser afilado y astuto para detectar
las trampas de dentro.
Las tentaciones que Jesús tuvo en el desierto fueron todos dirigidos a su identidad. El diablo comienza su tentación con estas palabras: "Si eres Hijo de Dios..." El diablo reconoce la identidad de Jesús pero quiere manipular a Jesús usando de su identidad. El diablo
quiere que Jesús usa su poder como el Hijo de Dios para su beneficio
personal y ulterior. Se utiliza la estrategia de la mentira y el engaño.
Él usa las atracciones básicas de la vida de atrapar a Jesús: el materialismo, el poder y la popularidad y la riqueza. Jesús logró superar
las tentaciones del diablo no porque Él es el Hijo de Dios con poder.
Él puede de superarlos porque se funda en la relación con su padre.
Él está basada con su identidad: como Hijo obediente. La voluntad
del Padre es primario para él. Él está sólidamente arraigado en la
oración. De hecho, él estaba orando y ayunando cuando fue tentado.
El Evangelio nos recuerda que las tentaciones de Jesús son asimismo
nuestras tentaciones. Tenemos el mismo adversario con Jesús y tenemos las mismas mecanismos que pudieran superar sus trampas.
La Cuaresma es una invitación a nosotros para entrar en el
"desierto" y se les recuerde de nuestra verdadera identidad y no esconderse de las mentiras e ilusiones ocultas en lo profundo de nosotros. La Cuaresma es un tiempo para ponernos delante de un espejo
para ver a nosotros mismos como hijos amados de Dios. Eso significa que pertenecemos a Dios y no al maligno. Adquirido por Dios
significa que debemos ser fieles a Dios. Debemos confiar en sus caminos, y no nuestros caminos; en su plan para nosotros y no nuestros
propios planes. Tenemos que estar conectados en la oración. La Cuaresma es un tiempo de más oración. Vivimos vidas muy ocupadas y
hay mucha atención a disfrutar de la vida pero una vida sin oración
es una vida sin la alegría de la presencia de Dios.
La lección más grande que podemos aprender de las tentaciones
de Jesús es que tenemos un Salvador que fue hecho como nosotros y
nos ganó de manos del maligno. Él ha vencido las tentaciones y así,
podemos. Si estamos cimentados en la palabra de Dios, si somos
sólidos en la fe y consistente en la oración, al igual que Jesús, podemos superar nuestras propias tentaciones. Si Jesús puede, podemos
también.
Second Sunday of Lent
February 21, 2016
TODAY’S READINGS
First Reading — The Lord made a covenant with his faithful servant,
Abram, saying, “To your descendants I give this land” (Genesis 15:512, 17-18).
Psalm — The Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27).
Second Reading — We await the Lord Jesus, who will change us to
conform with his glorified body (Philippians 3:17 — 4:1 [3:20 —
4:1]).
Gospel — Peter, James, and John witness the transfiguration of Jesus
on the mountain (Luke 9:28b-36).
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday:
Tuesday:
Wednesday:
Thursday:
Friday:
Saturday:
Sunday:
1 Pt 5:1-4; Ps 23:1-3a, 4-6; Mt 16:13-19
Is 1:10, 16-20; Ps 50:8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23; Mt 23:1-12
Jer 18:18-20; Ps 31:5-6, 14-16; Mt 20:17-28
Jer 17:5-10; Ps 1:1-4, 6; Lk 16:19-31
Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a; 17b-28a; Ps 105:16-21;
Mt 21:33-43, 45-46
Mi 7:14-15, 18-20; Ps 103:1-4, 9-12; Lk 15:1-3, 11-32
Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15; Ps 103:1-4, 6-8, 11;
1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Lk 13:1-9
LECTURAS DE HOY
Primera lectura — El Señor hizo una alianza con su siervo fiel
Abram, diciendo: “A tu descendencia daré esta tierra” (Génesis 15:512, 17-18).
Salmo — El Señor es mi luz y mi salvación
(Salmo 27 [26]).
Segunda lectura — Esperamos al Señor Jesús, quien nos cambiará
para conformarnos con su cuerpo glorificado (Filipenses 3:17 — 4:1
[3:20 — 4:1]).
Evangelio — Pedro, Santiago y Juan presencian la transfiguración de
Jesús en el monte (Lucas 9:28b-36).
LECTURAS DE LA SEMANA
Lunes:
Martes:
Miércoles:
Jueves:
Viernes:
Sábado:
Domingo:
1 Pe 5:1-4; Sal 23 (22):1-3a, 4-6; Mt 16:13-19
Is 1:10, 16-20; Sal 50 (49):8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23; Mt 23:1-12
Jer 18:18-20; Sal 31 (30):5-6, 14-16; Mt 20:17-28
Jer 17:5-10; Sal 1:1-4, 6; Lc 16:19-31
Gn 37:3-4, 12-13a; 17b-28a; Sal 105 (104):16-21;
Mt 21:33-43, 45-46
Mi 7:14-15, 18-20; Sal 103 (102):1-4, 9-12;
Lc 15:1-3, 11-32
Ex 3:1-8a, 13-15; Sal 103 (102):1-4, 6-8, 11;
1 Cor 10:1-6, 10-12; Lc 13:1-9
Arnie Acosta
Nazaria Padua
Renato de Jesus
Rebecca Purruganan
Joan Diskin
Roberto Soriano
Patricia Gatto
Placido Rod Rodriguez
Robert Hernandez
Antonino Soriano
John Lambert
Socorro Vituq
Rodolfo Moralda
Tina Yee
Page 3
Please Pray for the Sick
Fr. O’Neill
Bishop Rodolfo Beltran
A
Dolores Alatorre
Anita Alderete
Mary Helen Andrade
Dory and Mariano
Aoanan
Rosa Astacio
B
Patricia Bernal
H
Leopoldo Hernandez
Memo Herrera
Andi Holister
P
Tony Pagliotti
Sharon Palmiter
Albert Pelaez Jr.
Carmen Hopping
Joseph Power
I
Selvia Inado
Evelyn Ibarra
Lourdes Brizuela
Hector Ibarra
Steven Brown
Tod and Rose Marie
Brown
C
Esther Camacho
Mary Campitiello
S. Cano
Dennis del Castillo
Jessica Cerda
Benny Chua
J
Q
R
Corina Ramirez
Esperanza, Marta, and
Diomira Ramirez
Ramon Ramos
Darwin Jenkins
Debra Redo
K
L
Ramon Lai
Lillian Lee
Yee See Lipsun
Eleanor Lopez
Mauricio Luna
Rafael and Gerardo
Luna
Candice Lyman
Jean Reyes Williams
Lucy Rivas
Luz Rodriguez
Emilia Rodriguez
Virginia Rosales
S
Louis Sanchez
M
Robert Schmidt
Henry Machuca
Glicerio Sison
Gilbert Madrid
Cely Magpantay
Edgardo Marin
Monica Monreal
Uldarica Sison
Dean Smith
T
Jovita Tagle
U
Adria Garcia
Barbara Montague
V
Dan Garcia
Efren and Bertha
Moreno
Escefania Verendia
N
Ricardo Villegas
Dolores Natividad
Gisela Newson
O
Barbara Ornelas
Felicidad Villegas
Christopher Vindell
W
X, Y, Z
Fariz Ziedan
Isabel Cucci
D
Gustavo Adolfo
Delatorre
Sonia Gonzalez
Deltoro
E
Elias Esobedo
F
Glorioso Fajardo
G
Daniela Garcia de la
Rosa
Dolores Garcia
Juan Antonio Garcia
Rosa Gomez
Jose Gonzalez
Isaiah Gutierrez
Jean Miceli
Aurora Santos
Ronald Santos
Second Sunday of Lent
February 21, 2016
Page 4
Maryknoll Mission Visit
February 27th and 28th
THE EXTRAORDINARY JUBILEE OF MERCY
Maryknoll's mission is to witness God's Word among the
peoples and cultures of foreign lands. Maryknollers
share the Gospel, not in words alone, but in practical and
concrete actions: by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, giving shelter to the homeless, comforting
the oppressed. Maryknoll depends entirely upon the interest, prayers and support of its friends.
The Jubilee announcement had been made on the second
anniversary of the election of Pope Francis, during his homily for the penitential liturgy with which the Holy Father
opened the “24 Hours for the Lord”. This initiative, proposed by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the
New Evangelization, promotes throughout the world the
opening of churches for an extended period of time for the
purpose of inviting people to the celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The theme for this year has been
taken from the Letter of St. Paul to the Ephesians, “God rich
in mercy” (Eph 2:4).
Fr. Joseph Donovan, M.M., is a Maryknoll Missionary
priest for 36 years. He has worked among the indigenous
populations of Peru, in the capital city of Lima and in the
Andean highlands. Father Donovan has developed leadership training programs and networks of Basic Christian
Communities. Within these communities he has also
worked with his parishioners in social and economic projects.
December 8, 2015 - November 20, 2016
Please visit the Year of Mercy website at seekmercy.org
Sunday B reakfast
Together in Mission
Please join us in the hall for
As part of the Annual Catholic Appeal, Together in Mission provides substantial financial support to parishes
and schools in our Archdiocese. Your gift enables us to
provide essential resources and ministries that enrich
parish life, strengthen families, advance Church leadership and inspire and educate future generations of our
faith.
If you have not yet pledged to this year's campaign,
please use the envelopes located in the pews.
8:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m.
Sponsored by the Youth Group
The Passion and Death of
Our Lord Jesus Christ
Thank you in advance for your support
When: Saturday March 5th at 7:30 pm,
Where: Christ the King Catholic Church in Hollywood
-School parking lot
Lenten Backpack Project
This Season of Lent we invite you to participate in our
parish’s “Lenten Backpack Project,” which aims to provide backpacks with school supplies to poor children in
the Philippines.
The desired school supplies include:
Pencils
Pens
Crayons
Rulers
Erasers
Pencil Sharpeners
Glue Sticks
Notebooks
The Spanish community of Christ the King Catholic
Church will be putting on a Spanish language production
of The Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus
Christ. Admission is free and all parishioners and their
families are invited to come and witness this portrayal of
the events we celebrate during Holy week.

WELCOME TO OUR PARISH
If you are a newcomer to the parish and would like to register,
please complete the information below. Please clip this form and
bring to the parish office or deposit in the Sunday collection.
Current Parishioners, help us update our files by submitting
address and phone number changes with this form.
You may send your donations to the parish office or drop
them in the boxes provided in the vestibule.
Name: ___________________________________________________
Thank you for your generous support
City: __________________________________ Zip ______________
Address: _________________________________________________
Phone: ____________________ Cell Phone: ____________________
Second Sunday of Lent
February 21, 2016
MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday, February 20, 2016
John Baptist Hoang †
4:00 PM Fr. Jovi
Confessions
5:00 PM Fr. Jovi
Dolores Villanueva †
Anna Tran †
9:00 AM GP
Theresa Mai Vu
10:45 AM Fr. Ruiz
Rafael Garcia, Sr. †
12:30 PM Fr. Pius
Parishioners of STM
Monday, February 22 2016
Parishioners of STM
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Hall
9:30 AM Legion of Mary
Ministry Center
7:00 PM RCIA Class
Ministry Center
7:30 PM Youth Band Practice
Church
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
9:00 AM
Our Lady of Wisdom Prayer
Church
Group
6:45 PM English Choir Practice
Hall
Church
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Martin III, Maria, Martin M., Josefina
and Chavele Elizondo and Pedro Lujan †
7:00 PM Bible Study
Ministry Center
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Thursday, February 25, 2016
Roberta Martinez
Friday, February 26, 2016
8:30 AM GP
8:30 AM Sunday Breakfast
11:30 AM Bingo
George A. Murray and
Louis Madrid †
8:30 AM Fr. Donovan
Hall (or MC)
Monday, February 22, 2016
7:30 AM Fr. Hoan
8:30 AM GP
6:00 PM Confirmation Class
Sunday, February 21, 2016
Sunday, February 21, 2016
8:30 AM GP
CURRENT EVENTS
Saturday, February 20, 2016
8:30 AM GP
8:30 AM Fr. Harold
Page 5
Roberto Soriano †
Saturday, February 27, 2016
8:30 AM Fr. Hoan
4:00 PM Fr. Donovan
Parishioners of STM
Confessions
5:00 PM Fr. Donovan
Mary Cerda †
6:30 PM Youth Nights
Ministry Center
8:00 PM Spanish Choir Practice
Church
Friday, February 26, 2016
Eucharistic
Adoration
Soup Supper
6:00 PM
Knight of Columbus
9:00 AM
7:00 PM Stations of the Cross
Sunday, February 28, 2016
Church
Hall
Church
Saturday, February 27, 2016
7:30 AM Fr. Hoan
Anna Tran †
9:00 AM Fr. Donovan
Maria Altamirano †
6:00 PM Confirmation Class
Hall (or MC)
Sunday, February 28, 2016
10:45 AM Fr. Donovan
Arturo Reyes †
12:30 PM GP
Parishioners of STM
8:30 AM Sunday Breakfast
Hall
Collections for 2/14/16
5:00 PM
$1,095.00
7:30 AM
$1,017.00
9:00 AM
$1,459.00
10:45 AM
$768.00
12:30 PM
$901.00
By mail/online
$737.00
Bldg Fund
$1,313.00
Altar Society
$66.00
Ash Wednesday
$1,360.68
Total
$8,716.68
Reminders and Upcoming Events
Please join us for the Stations of the Cross
Every Friday of Lent at 7:00 pm in the church
Together in Mission
If you have not yet pledged to this year's campaign,
please use the envelopes located in the pews.
www.facebook.com/StThomasMoreAlhambra