introducing father devdas
Transcription
introducing father devdas
INTRODUCING FATHER DEVDAS I come from a family of seven siblings—three boys and four girls. I am fifth in the order. My mother died when I was 5 years old and my father died six years ago. By profession we are farmers and grow mainly cash crops. As a child I learned to plough, grow rice, vegetables, etc. My brothers are still with the same profession, but my nephews and nieces, who moved out of the community for education and employment, are slowly losing their farming roots. I was born in a mixed religious family. My dad was a Hindu before his marriage and my mom was a Catholic. My aunt—my dad’s sister—was married to a Hindu priest. I was close to my uncle, and as a child I used to assist him during weekends in his Hindu religious worship. In my heart I did not believe in the Hindu religion nor enjoy participating in the rituals. I went along with it because I loved my uncle and wanted to help him. Therefore, as a child, I was not much involved in church activities because of my affiliation with Hindu religion. My early association with Hindu religion, rituals, and practices made me question my belief system and brought me closer to the church and my faith. I truly found my faith when I was in high school. It felt right to me; it felt like I belonged to something greater and was serving a higher purpose. I soon became an altar server and a year later secretary to the altar server’s association. Being the secretary to the altar server’s association I had the responsibility of training and mentoring new altar servers. I clearly remember one day when I was in the ninth grade at St. Bernadette’s Catholic High School, a missionary priest from North India came to my school and talked to the ninth and tenth graders about the missionary work in North India and the need for more priests to work as missionaries. He asked us to consider the possibilities of joining the seminary and going to North India to work as missionaries. I gave my name without knowing much about the North Indian culture, climate, language, people, etc. My family, particularly my dad, was not happy with my decision. He discouraged me saying that the people in the north are barbarians and they kill missionaries. It is true that even now missionaries in India North continue to face oppositions and martyrdom. I took up the challenge and joined a summer camp—Come and See Program—organized after my tenth grade final exam for students considering joining the priesthood. (Cont. on page 4) Table of Contents Church Directory Pg 2 Announcements Pg 3 Weekly Readings Mass Intentions Pg 3 Pg 3 Youth Update Pg 5 2 The Messenger Queen of Angels Church Queen of Angels Church 2569 W. Victoria Drive Alpine, CA 91901-3662 Office: (619) 445-2145 Fax: (619) 445-9682 www.queenofangels.org Email: parish@queenofangels.org Mass Schedule Saturday: 5:30 PM Sunday: 8:00 and 10:30 AM Weekdays: 8:00 AM Thursday: Communion Service only: 8:00 AM Clergy Rev. Devdas Masillamony, Pastor frdevdas@queenofangels.org Deacon Fred Thornton dcnfred@queenofangels.org Parish Office Staff Dorie Arietta, Office Manager dorie@queenofangels.org Kathy Burns, Bookkeeper kathy@queenofangels.org Sandy Dioli, Office Assistant sandy@queenofangels.org Kristi Scherbaum, Director of Catechetical Ministry (DCM) kristi@queenofangels.org Beverly Jo Michelli, Youth Minister/Assistant DCM beverly@queenofangels.org Bulletin Editor, Sheila Wing Music Ministry: Ami Abrigo Saturday, 5:30 PM 445-2145 Sean & Natalie McMeeken Sunday, 8:00 AM 445-2145 Meinard Belarmino Sunday, 10:30 AM 445-2145 Reconciliation In the Reconciliation Chapel Saturday 4:30-5:00 PM after weekday Mass or by appointment Liturgy of the Word for Children: Eileen Porter (10:30 AM Sun.) Calming Room: Ask Usher for assistance at any Mass Knights of Columbus: Contact Don Lundy 445-2145 J u ly 2 0 , 2 0 14 Christ is like a roped guide climbing a mountain who, on reaching the summit, pulls us up to him and leads us to God. If we entrust our life to him, if we let ourselves be guided by him, we are certain to be in safe hands, in the hands of our Savior, of our advocate. Pope Francis Do you feel a pull to join the Catholic Church? Does the path you are on in life seem to keep coming back to the Church? When all of life is swirling around, does Mass bring you peace? Does the thought of becoming Catholic give you a sense being in God’s safe hands? Maybe you are being guided to explore what it means to join the Catholic Church (or complete your sacraments if you were baptized Catholic and never made your First Eucharist or were confirmed.) Come join others who are on a similar path in the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) process. Our next meeting is Wednesday, August 6, at 7:00 PM in the parish hall. Call Kristi Scherbaum at 445.2145 for more details. If you have an older child who has not been baptized or who would like to join the Church or make his/her First Eucharist, please contact Kristi Scherbaum at 445.2145. FOR THE SICK Prayer for the Sick Please pray for: Watch, O Lord, with those who wake, or watch, or weep tonight, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend your sick ones, O Lord Christ. Rest your weary ones. Bless your dying ones. Soothe your suffering ones. Pity your afflicted ones. Shield your joyous ones. And for all your love's sake. Amen. Erika Allen Ernie Allen, Jr. Lissa Avera Claude Bailey Mary & Norman Banks Michael Banks Ursula Briner Dan Contreras Zac Erickson Beverly Falor Nathan Farmer Eleanore “Cookie” Flocken Robin Florance Karen Gamble Steve Glass Saint Augustine Aida House Elwood Johnson Katie Larson Carmen Lewis Jenn Lundy Winnie O’Hara Calvin Peoples Eric Prieto Caroline Sardisco Mary Kay Smith Chris Twardochleb Sue Twardochleb Dorothy Venancio Kailyn & Charis Whaley and all those listed in our book of prayer. PRAYER Almighty God, be their LIST FOR constant companion Jim Archer II DEPLOYED and strength in every MILITARY Marcus Rainier De la Cruz adversity. May they Cara Dudda experience Your Michael Hazelton presence, love and SGT Michael Ibarra As a faith community comfort. Amen. Captain Kevin Kellum let us keep all who Alexander Marin serve our country If you have a friend or Sgt. Edward J. Mitchell during these troubled relative who is serving in 2 CL PVT Matt Ramirez times in our prayers. our military and is SFC Oscar Rodriguez We pray especially for deployed or will be Miguel Torres deployed please call Sheila those of our parish who MA3 Carl Touchet at 619.445.2145 HM3 Jacob Tweed are deployed or who or email her at CPL Chris Welch will soon be deployed: bulletin@queenofangels.org. The Messenger Queen of Angels Church J u ly 2 0 , 2 0 14 3 ANNOUNCEMENTS St. Adelaide Collection The second collection at all the Masses this weekend, July 19-20, will be for St. Adelaide Church in Campo. Please be as generous as you can to our brothers and sisters in need at St. Adelaide’s. Men Saddened by a Past Abortion: Rachel’s Hope offers one day healing workshops for husbands or boyfriends of past and current relationships troubled by an abortion of their child or are in a relationship with a woman who has had an abortion. The workshop, led by Dr. Paul Santero, will be held on Saturday, July 26, from 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 3888 Paducah. Fee is $25. To preregister please call 858.581.3022 or visit our website at www.rachelshope.org. Summer Stewardship This is the time of year when many families are on vacation. A good way to teach children about the importance of Mass attendance is to build it even on vacation. It can be fun and interesting to seek out a parish in another town to attend Mass in another Catholic faith community. At the same time, it is important to remember that the stewardship way of living the Christian life is to decide in advance how much of our treasure we share with our own parish community. Even though many families are away for some portion of the summer, our bills do not stop. For this reason, I hope that you will remember to use your envelopes in support of our parish even when you are on vacation. One of the advantages of our envelope system is the convenience of being able to return them by mail. Camp Oliver: Summer Fun for Kids! Camp Oliver is owned by the Sisters of Social Service, and has been operating summer camp for over 60 years. Campers ages 6-13 enjoy swimming, arts and crafts, archery, nature studies, outdoor cooking, hiking, campfires, low ropes course and more! Our third and last session will be August 8. Financial assistance is available. For complete information visit our new website at www.campoliver.org, email info@campoliver.org or call the office at 619.445.5945. Mass Times for Travelers Traveling? As Rev. Patrick Keyes, CSSR, writes in the Liguori Sunday Bulletin, “We’re never on vacation from our faith. If you plan where you’ll attend Mass just as you do the rest of your trip, you may discover a historic church, a widely recognized choir, or an award-winning homilist. But no matter where you go to Mass, you’ll find Jesus, waiting to nourish you with his Word and feed you with his Body and Blood.” MassTimes.org has listings for Catholic churches in the United States and around the world. To find Mass in the area where you are traveling, go to their website at www.MassTimes.org or call 858.207.6277. Patronize Our Advertisers We wish to thank the many neighborhood merchants who are generously supporting our bulletin with their advertising. A link to our advertisers’ page is provided at The Messenger Bulletins tab on our website. Please patronize these businesses whose faith in this medium of advertising make The Messenger possible. If you have a business and desire to reach fellow parishioners with your message, please call 951.683.0608 or visit the C&M website at www.cmpublications.com for more info. Stewardship of Treasure July 13, 2014 Registered families 724 Envelopes used 174 Envelope collections $ 7,061.00 Plate collections $ TOTAL $ 7,465.02 404.02 We are desperate for your help to serve coffee and donuts on Sunday morning once a month. Volunteers would be appreciated especially for the 8:00 AM Mass, but if the 10:30 Mass is better for you, please volunteer. If you can share your time please contact Leslie Perricone at 760.7638. READINGS and MASS INTENTIONS July 19 - 27, 2014 Sunday: Wis 12:13, 16-19/Ps 86:5-6, 9-10, 15-16/ Rom 8:26-27/Mt 13:24-43 Monday: Mi 6:1-4, 6-8/ Ps 50:5-6, 8-9, 16-17, 21, 23/Mt 12:38-42 Tuesday: Mi 7:14-15, 18-20/Ps 85:2-8/ Jn 20:1-2, 11-18 Wednesday: Jer 1:1, 4-10/Ps 71:1-6, 15, 17/Mt 13:1-9 Thursday: Jer 2:1-3, 7-8, 12-13/Ps 36:6-11/ Mt 13:10-17 Friday: 2 Cor 4:7-15/Ps 126:1-6/Mt 20:20-28 Saturday: Jer 7:1-11/Ps 84:3-6, 8, 11/Mt 13:24-30 Next Sunday: 1 Kgs 3:5, 7-12/ Ps 119:57, 72, 76-77, 127-130/ Rom 8:28-30/Mt 13:44-52 DATE Saturday, Sunday, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wed, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Sunday, Jul 19 Jul 20 Jul 20 Jul 21 Jul 22 Jul 23 Jul 24 Jul 25 Jul 26 Jul 27 Jul 27 TIME 5:30 PM 8:00 AM 10:30 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 8:00 AM 5:30 PM 8:00 AM 10:30 AM INTENTION † Margaret Fraenzl † Mark & Milo Simons For the People Bob Barrett In Thanksgiving † Souls in Purgatory Communion Service Bob & Luise Barrett Joan Smith For the People † Concepcion Villa REQUESTED BY Gerry & Terry Fraenzl Marlene Simons John & Sheila Wing Beverly & Thomas Sprague Beverly & Thomas Sprague John & Sheila Wing Robert & Angelica Brigham 4 The Messenger Queen of Angels Church We believe that God, in His mercy and compassion, answers each prayer in accordance to His will. If you would like prayers for a loved one or for a special intention, go to our website, www.queenofangels.org Click on the Prayer Request tab on the left sidebar and then fill out the form. Add Your Request for Prayers Father Devdas offers these intentions from the “Prayer Requests” along with the other intentions during one of Queen of Angels’ Masses each week. J u ly 2 0 , 2 0 14 (Cont. from page 1) I liked the atmosphere at the summer camp which was peaceful, prayerful, and respectful. The camp gave me time to pray and discern my vocation. After the summer camp, I decided to join the seminary to become a priest and I was also supported and mentored by my high school principal, a priest, a simple and holy man. His humility, piety, and love for God and the poor interested me in joining the priesthood. I joined the Archdiocese of Delhi and became a priest on May 14, 1994. I worked one year as an associate pastor in an urban parish. The parish had a vibrant youth group and I was given the responsibility of mentoring them. I loved the work and from that group two of them joined the priesthood. I was then appointed as the Director of Catholic Charities until 2001. It was not something I wanted to do as a priest but I took it up out of obedience and also I had a Masters’ degree in Social Work. I was hesitant because I wanted to have some parish experience before starting a residential program for drug addicts. It was my dream because many of my family people and friends were addicts and their families suffered because of the addiction. As the director of Catholic Charities I could not start a residential program for drug addicts due to lack of time and resources but worked closely with AA/NA Groups and guided them to grow and serve people and families affected by it. While I was with Catholic Charities, I worked with people of different socio-economic and religious groups, especially people living in rural and urban slums. It enabled me to understand their struggle and have special concern for them. I came to the United States to do my Ph.D. at USD. My doctoral program was Leadership and Management studies—Management of Nonprofit Organizations. During my studies at USD, I served at Santa Sophia Parish in addition to working as a hospital chaplain. I enjoyed the work and learned a lot from their simple faith, even in moments of struggle and difficulties. It deepened my faith and my understanding of people in struggle. I am now a priest of the Diocese of San Diego and am very pleased to work at Queen of Angels parish as pastor. I love my priesthood. It is a great joy and honor celebrating the Holy Eucharist with the faith community, administering the Sacraments, hearing confession, listening and comforting people, etc. As a priest, it is my great joy to help people to encounter God and experience His goodness and love. My experience of working with people helped me grow in my faith and has drawn me closer to God. This is my 20 th year of ordination to the priesthood. I am humbled and profoundly thank the Lord for the gift of my vocation and the opportunities to serve God’s holy people. Welcome! If you, like Father Devdas, are new in the parish, please introduce yourself to him after Mass and stop by the Parish Office during the week. Parish registration is available for all who come to Queen of Angels Church on a regular basis and consider this their home. Please use the registration coupon below or fill out the form at the church entrance. We wish to extend a warm welcome to all new parishioners. If you would like to be registered, please fill out this form and either place it in the collection basket, or stop by the office in person or mail it to the parish or send it by email to dorie@queenofangels.org. Nosotros extendemos una calurosa bienvenida a todos los nuevos fieles. Si usted quisiera ser registrado, por favor llene esta forma, entregaria en la oficina, ponerla en las canasta de las limosnas, o mandala por correo o mandaria por correo electronica (email). First Name _________________________________ & ________________________Last________________________________ Primer Nobre Apellido Address/ Domicilio__________________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________________________________ The Messenger Queen of Angels Church 5 J u ly 2 0 , 2 0 14 YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULT UPDATE BY BEVERLY JO MICHELLI Introduction to "Theology of the Body" Tuesdays, July 22 & 29 from 7:00 PM -9:00 PM. at San Rafael Church Are you struggling to figure out what God's plans are for the desires of your heart? Do you think God may have something better than the hook-up culture the world promotes? Then join other 18-25 yr olds as we learn about God’s plan for our sexuality with JP2s Theology of the Body Beginner Series by Christopher West. We will be meeting at 7 PM every Tues in July at San Rafael. Please RSVP to Rachel at digiglior@aol.com or 805.444.5322 Theology on Tap Mondays in August (4, 11, 18, 25); 6:30 PM Dinner/7:30 PM Speaker Offshore Tavern & Grill at 2253 Morena Blvd 92117 Join other young adults for a great night of food, fellowship and great speakers in the Bay Park Area! Mon, Aug 4: Catholic Social Teaching: "Moving our Faith into ACTION!" with Fr. Sebastian Bukenya Mon, Aug 11: If it makes you happy....."Discover the JOY you deeply desire!" with Kara Klein Mon, Aug 18: Prayer in the FAST LANE! "Quiet moments to connect with God." with Deacon Chris Hulbert Mon, Aug 25: A crash course through the BIBLE! "Get the amazing, big picture of scripture!" with Katie Patrizio MEGA MASS with Bishop Flores Sunday, August 10, 5:30 PM-8:00 PM at The Immaculata Church on USD Come join young adults 18-39 yrs old from all over the Diocese for the 3rd annual Young Adult Mega Mass celebrated by Bishop Flores! There will be a light reception following the Mass. We are expecting 500 young adults so this is the place to be! Please RSVP to Carrie at cgiebel@diocese-sdiego.org or 858.490.8260. SAVE THE DATE!! Diocesan Young Adult Retreat SEPTEMBER 19 - 21 at Whispering Winds (details to come)