During Lent, fast and abstinence are in order on Ash Wednesday and Holy Friday. Every Friday, we avoid eating meat.
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February 5, 2008
MARDI GRAS...all right! It's not Lent, but it's close, and it's the Feast of St. Agatha. Spanish Communion Service at 6:30. Pancake Supper in Hall at 7 PM (and probably before that, if you're really hungry and not attending the Communion Service!)
February 6, 2008
ASH WEDNESDAY, a day of fast and abstinence, not a Holy Day of Obligation, but a day for wholeness, as we begin the 40 day inner journey or pilgrimage toward personal authenticity—a re-finding of who we are and who we must be. Get ashes and begin the 'turning" that is the process of repentance—a "turning, turning that comes round right," as the Shaker hymn puts it, and brings us "to the place just right...the valley of love and delight." So, choose a penance (not necessarily a giving up, perhaps a "taking on?") that will be beneficial to you. AND, you can change your penance throughout the season. The point is personal growth, not endurance. Masses (with ashes) are at 8 AM and 6:30 PM, and simple services of
Scripture and Ashes will be held at 12 Noon, and at 7:30 PM.
February 7, 2008
Simple weekday of Lent, we have a service of Holy Communion in Spanish at 7 PM. Also, birthday of Ragtime pianist, Eubie Blake (1883), so don't be dour this season! Penance isn't about dourness!
February 8, 2008
Friday of Lent so abstinence from meat is in order for the day. And, it's the memorial of St. Josephine Bakhita, born in Darfur (Sudan) in 1869, died in Schio (Italy) 8 February 1947, was canonized by the Pope in the Vatican, calling her Our Universal Sister. This amazingly strong woman made it from an ill-treated slave to a unifying symbol for African Catholics and women. Adoration begins at 5:30, Mass is at 6:30, and Stations follow. All these services are bi-lingual.
February 9, 2008
Saturday of Lent, the Sacrament of Reconciliation is available from 4:30 - 5:15, and the Vigil Mass of the First Sunday of Lent, a bi-lingual liturgy begins at 5:30 PM. (We encourage our young people to attend this Mass and get to know each other.)
February 10, 2008
First Sunday of Lent. Today converts are officially "enrolled" by the bishop. Pray for those who are seeking to join our spiritual path. Ask God to grant them wisdom and deep faith so that their lives may be benedictions of hope for us and for all the earth. Leontine Price, born; Alex Haley dies. God gives and takes away, but He is good, all the time!
Activity: Contemplative Prayer/meditation group to meet in front of the Tabernacle @ 4:30 PM on Sunday, and simply sit in quiet prayer until the 5:30 Mass. Led by Delores Allen and Victoria Brocatto
February 11, 2008
Today is "World Day of the Sick," and interestingly, it is also the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes whose shrine in France is a place of deep healing for all who find their way there. Ask her intercession for your own inner healing. Mass in English is at 6:30 PM, followed by a soup supper and the Taizé Prayer Service.
Activity: Monday Evening Soup Suppers/Adult Spiritual Offerings. Taizé Prayer Experience, Sr. Rochelle from Holy Spirit Retreat Center in Encino
February 12, 2008
Mass prayers of Tuesday of the 1st week of Lent, also the anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln, do something for justice today, if only to write a check to a charitable organization. Mass in Spanish is at 6:30 PM Also, NAACP was founded today in 1909. Remember, Lent should be about justice.
February 13, 2008
Mass prayers of Wednesday of the 1st Sunday of Lent. English Mass is at 8 AM. Bible Study at 7 PM. In 1970 Joseph Searles became first African-American member of the stock exchange. Expand yourself! Your "limits" are in your mind, not in reality.
Activity: Wednesday Evening Bible Study, Led by Fr. Bill
February 14, 2008
Memorial of St. Valentine, or St. Valentine's Day. Tell someone you love them. Communion Service in Spanish at 6:30 PM. Also birthday of Frederick Douglas (see 2/20, below, for his death.)
February 15, 2008
Mass prayers of Friday of the 1st week of Lent, so abstinence from meat is in order. But, also, in history, the day in 1879 when President Rutherford Hayes signed a bill allowing female attorneys to argue cases before the Supreme Court, and in Japan, the celebration of the Birth of the Buddha, so, it's a day for both justice and peace. Do something, yourself, to elevate those qualities. Adoration 5.30 PM, Mass 6:30 PM, Stations, 7 PM. All these services are bi-lingual.
February 16, 2008
Saturday of the 1st week of Lent, Sacrament of Reconciliation from 4:30 PM - 5:15 PM, and the bi-lingual Vigil Mass at 5:30 PM. (We encourage our young people to attend this Mass and get to know each other.) Also, the anniversary of the death of Thelonious Monk, the great jazz musician. Allow music to enrich you, today, in his honor!
Activity: Retreat: Holy Trinity Retreat Center in Encino (bi-lingual). Led by Fr. Bill, Josie Broehm, Mary Ellen Burton-Christie, & Chris Diaz
February 17, 2008
Second Sunday of Lent. We hear the Gospel of the Transfiguration, so its a day to look for the light in your darkness, and a day for trying to let the light that is in you—however "flickering" it seems to be—shine forth.
Activity: Contemplative Prayer/meditation group to meet in front of the Tabernacle @ 4:30 PM on Sunday, and simply sit in quiet prayer until the 5:30 Mass. Led by Delores Allen and Victoria Brocatto
February 18, 2008
Mass prayers of Monday of the 2nd week of Lent. Also the anniversary of the death of Martin Luther, so do something rebellious in his honor! Mass in English is at 6:30 PM. Soup supper at 7 PM followed by a Discussion/Meditation led by Ms. Mary Ellen Burton-Christie, a spiritual director in our parish.
Activity: Monday Evening Soup Suppers/Adult Spiritual Offerings. Meditation / Discussion, Ms. Mary Ellen Burton-Christie, Spiritual Director, St. Agatha
February 19, 2008
Mass prayers of Tuesday of the 2nd week of Lent. The Gospel speaks of the "burdens" we can put on each other, so perhaps a day to reflect on the harm our words and actions may have caused, and to begin to make a list of those to whom we need to make amends. Mass in Spanish at 6:30 PM
February 20, 2008
Mass prayers of Wednesday of the 2nd week of Lent. The anniversary of the death of Frederick Douglas, whose accounts of his experience of slavery aided the Abolition movement; he started a newspaper to help slaves chart their way to freedom. How can "my" life be a beacon? English Mass at 8 AM. Bible study at 7 PM.
Activity: Wednesday Evening Bible Study, Led by Fr. Bill
February 21, 2008
Feast day of St. Peter Damian to whom is attributed the saying: "That which doesn't kill me, makes me strong." His childhood was harsh and abusive, yet he found sources of deep compassion within himself. A day to look for those reservoirs of kindness and charity deep within ourselves. Spanish Communion Service at 6.30 PM. A somber note: Malcolm X was assassinated today in 1965. Let go of hate.
February 22, 2008
Lenten Friday, so abstinence from meat is in order. Also, the Feast of the Chair of Peter the Apostle. Since the date of the death of St. Peter is unknown, this date has been adopted. Pray for the Pope today, and for the good of the entire Church. Adoration 5:30 PM, Mass 6:30 PM, Stations 7 PM.
February 23, 2008
Saturday of 2nd week of Lent, Sacrament of Reconciliation, 4:30 - 5:15 PM, Bilingual Vigil Mass at 5:30 PM. (We encourage our young people to attend this Mass and get to know each other.)
February 24, 2008
Third Sunday of Lent. Today the Creed is presented to converts in their parish churches Perhaps a day to pray for greater faith...remember the guy who said to Christ: "I believe, Lord; help my unbelief." That is everyone's story, so we pray for faith and the ability to trust. Also, the anniversary of Marbury vs. Madison, establishing judicial review. A day for "reviewing" our motives, behaviors, all the "stuff' of the inner pilgrimage.
Activity: Contemplative Prayer/meditation group to meet in front of the Tabernacle @ 4:30 PM on Sunday, and simply sit in quiet prayer until the 5:30 Mass. Led by Delores Allen and Victoria Brocatto
February 25, 2008
Mass prayers of Monday of the 3rd week of Lent, and, it's the anniversary of the 1870 swearing in of Hiram R. Revels, a Republican from Mississippi, who became the first African-American ever to sit in the United States Congress. It's not too late to brush up on African-American history. This is African- American history month English Mass at 6'30 PM, Soup Supper at 7 PM, followed by an experience of "The Labyrinth Walk."
Activity: Monday Evening Soup Suppers/Adult Spiritual Offerings. Labyrinth Walk, by Ms. Josie Broehm, Spiritual Director, St. Agatha.
February 26, 2008
Mass prayers of Tuesday of the 3rd week of Lent, the Gospel is about "forgiving 7 x 7!" so, perhaps a day to look at our "amends list" and begin to think what we might say or do for each person listed there. Praying for them is a good start!
February 27, 2008
Mass prayers of the Wednesday of the 3rd week of Lent. English Mass at 8 AM. Bible study, 7 PM. Birthday of Marian Anderson, sing a song of joy, today!
Activity: Wednesday Evening Bible Study, Led by Fr. Bill
February 28, 2008
Thursday of 3rd week of Lent, Spanish Communion Service at 6:30 PM. Also, the anniversary of the final episode of M*A*S*H in 1983. A day to add humor to our lives.
February 29, 2008
Friday of the 3rd week of Lent, so abstinence from meat is in order. This evening, due to the Religious Education Congress in Anaheim, we will not have Mass_ Adoration will be at 5:30, Communion Service at 6:30, Stations at 7 PM. Hattie Daniel, first black actress to win an Oscar: today, in 1940.
St Agatha Parish Family