When requesting more than one Mass, keep in mind we can schedule only one weekend mass and two weekday masses per year.

The Lenten Fast and Abstinence Regulations are, as follows:

1. Fasting and abstinence from meat, on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.

2. Abstinence from meat on all Fridays of Lent. The law of abstinence from meat is required of all those fourteen years of age and older.
3. The law of the fast means only one full meal may be taken during the day. Two light meals are permitted, but are not to equal one full meal. The consumption of solid food between meals is prohibited, but liquids may be taken at any time.
4. The law of fast binds those who have completed their 18th year and have not yet reached their 60th year.
5. Those, who by reason of their young age, are not bound by the laws of fast and abstinence, should be taught the true meaning of penance.


It is a traditional doctrine of Christian spirituality that a constituent part of repentance, of which is turning away from sin and returning to God, includes some form of penance, in order for a Christian to remain on the narrow path and be saved. As our Holy Father, Pope Francis, has written: “Dear brothers and sisters, may this Lenten season find the whole Church ready to bear witness to all those who live in material, moral and spiritual destitution the Gospel message of the merciful love of God our Father, who is ready to embrace everyone in Christ. We can so this to the extent that we imitate Christ who became poor and enriched us by his poverty. Lent is a fitting time for self-denial; we would do well to ask ourselves what we can give up in order to help and enrich others by our own poverty. Let us not forget that real poverty hurts: no self-denial is real without this dimension of penance. I distrust a charity that costs nothing and does not hurt.”
Apart from the special Lenten activities of individuals and parishes, Lent also affords a special opportunity for families to grow deeper in their commitment to Christ. Within the family, penitential practices and devotions can be conducted, including the use of Scripture, the Rosary, the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, and other forms of family prayer and devotion.

Divine Mercy Sunday

Pope John Paul II wrote and spoke extensively about God’s divine mercy. His devotion to divine mercy began when he was growing up in Poland during World War II. He saw Jewish friends rounded up and sent to concentration camps where they were eventually killed. He clearly knew the need for God’s mercy and for people to show mercy to one another. In 2000, he canonized Saint Maria Faustina Kowalska, the first saint of the new millennium. She was known for her devotion to divine mercy. At that time, the Pope also established the Second Sunday of Easter as Divine Mercy Sunday. Share this Divine Mercy Sunday resource page with your families so they may better understand the significance of this devotion, Divine Mercy Sunday, and the Apostle of Mercy—Saint Faustina. It also includes instructions for praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy.

FROM OUR EDITORS—April 21 & 28, 2019 – Easter & 2nd Sunday of Easter

When I worked as a fourth-grade teacher at a Catholic school in Monterrey, Mexico, I was talking to my class about the importance of Easter for all Christians. I was explaining that thanks to Jesus’ Death and Resurrection, we can go to Heaven one day and live with him forever.

My eight- and nine-year-old students were very interested in what I was saying and, judging by their comments and expressions, I knew that they agreed with what I was teaching. Everything was going just fine until I mentioned that Jesus’ Death and Resurrection brought salvation to the world, therefore, Easter was the most important feast for Christians.

As soon as I finished saying those words, I could see the eyes of my twenty-seven students open as wide as plates. Immediately, twenty-seven little hands went up, asking for permission to talk. It was obvious that for my young class, Christmas was the most important feast in the Church Year. Even Pope Francis admits he was fifteen years old when he heard about the importance of Easter for the first time!

I explained to my class, using language that they could understand, that “if Christ had not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is [our] faith” (1 Corinthians 15:14). We discussed that if Jesus had not been risen from the dead and if he had not fulfilled his promises, we would doubt that he really is God. Finally, I told my students that Easter is important because it is the celebration of God’s infinite love for us.

I don’t know if my students were able to grasp what I taught them that day. I asked them to keep my words in their hearts and, together as a class, we asked God to grant us the grace of experiencing the joy of his Resurrection and the hope of eternal life.

Let us pray: We thank you, Lord, for your sacrifice of love on the Cross, for your glorious Resurrection, and your infinite mercy. Help us to recognize the magnitude of your love for us so we can share it with the children under our care. Amen.

SUNDAY’S GOSPEL—April 7, 2019 – 5th Sunday of Lent

John 8:1–11

In this Sunday’s Gospel, teachers of the Law try to trap Jesus into defending a woman caught in adultery thereby breaking the Law. The crowd was prepared to stone the woman. Jesus foils the attempt by suggesting that anyone without sin can cast the first stone. He then refuses to condemn the woman and encourages her to change and grow by not sinning.

 

Rice Bowl focuses on Migrants and Refugees Overseas This Lent
Catholic Relief Services’ Lenten faith in action program, CRS Rice Bowl, will share the stories of migrants and refugees during the upcoming Lenten season. Young women like Annet, making new lives in the Bidi Bidi refugee settlement in Uganda. Fathers like Christyan, returning home to Sri Lanka after a brutal civil war. Teachers like Ona, unable to leave her home in Gaza in search of economic opportunities. Encounter these stories and more through free faith formation materials in English or Spanish available at crsricebowl.org/order.

March 24, 2019 – 3rd Sunday of Lent

Para la versión en español, haga clic aqui.

This Monday, March 25, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, when Mary said yes to God and became the Mother of our Savior.

The angel of the Lord came to Mary to initiate the dialogue that would change the course of history: “The holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called holy, the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Mary said, “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38).

The dialogue between the messenger and the Virgin was not an imposition, but a proposal that Mary, “blessed among women,” accepted with complete freedom.

Pope Saint John Paul II says that “by her conduct, Mary reminds each of us of our serious responsibility to accept God’s plan for our lives.” This season of Lent presents us with a wonderful opportunity to say yes to the Lord by living the Lenten practices of fasting, praying, and almsgiving.

Mary was likely only 15 years old when her answer brought salvation to all humanity. In our classrooms and homes, we have children and young people who are called to be messengers of hope. Let’s pray to the Lord that we may have the grace to instill in them a love for God that is so big that one day, they will say yes to his call throughout their lives.

SUNDAY’S GOSPEL—March 24, 2019 – 3rd Sunday of Lent

Luke 13:1–9

When people told Jesus about a group of Galileans killed by Pilate, he told the people that unless they repent, they will all likewise perish. To help them understand, he tells them a parable about giving a fig tree more time to grow fruit. If not, the tree would be cut down. Jesus teaches that God gives us every opportunity to grow closer to him.

Lucas 13.1–9

Cuando la gente le contó a Jesús sobre un grupo de galileos asesinados por Pilato, Jesús dijo a la gente que si no se arrepienten, todos perecerán del mismo modo. Para ayudarlos a comprender, les cuenta una parábola sobre darle a una higuera más tiempo para dar fruto. Si no, la cortará. Jesús enseña que Dios nos da muchas oportunidades para que nos acerquemos más a él.

See The Gospel at Home (English, Spanish) for suggested family activities and discussion starters related to this Sunday’s Gospel.

March 3, 2019 – 8th Sunday in Ordinary Time

As difficult as it may be to believe it, Lent begins this week. Ash Wednesday is March 6. As we invite and guide the children in our care to prepare their hearts for Easter through age-appropriate increases in prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, we must give thought to our own Lenten preparation for Easter.

If you tend to do the same thing every Lent, consider making a change or adding something new to your Lenten preparation. You might consider joining me in one of my go-to Lenten practices. Using the letters of Lent as an acronym—Let’s Eliminate Negative Thinking, I make an effort to be more positive throughout the season of Lent.

When tempted to be critical of another person, we might remember Jesus’ words in Sunday’s Gospel: “Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own?” When tempted to speak badly of another, spread gossip, lie, or use bad language or God’s name in vain, we might remember that Jesus said, “A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Lent is a time for more intense training in following our Master. Jesus said, “[W]hen fully trained, every disciple will be like his teacher.” We pray it may be so!

February 24, 2019 – 7th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Sunday’s First Reading tells the story of King Saul taking 3,000 men to find and kill David, his worst enemy. David walked into Saul’s camp in the middle of the night and found the ruler soundly asleep. He had the opportunity to kill him right there, but he didn’t. David spared the life of the man who was trying to end his, for he trusted that God would keep his promise to give him the throne of Israel.

Forgiveness is never easy, particularly when the person who hurt us is someone close, like a family member. It can be easier to forgive someone we barely know. During his General Audience on November 4, 2015, Pope Francis said, “One cannot live without seeking forgiveness…especially in the family.” And then he adds: “the family is a great training ground for the mutual giving and forgiving without which no love can last for long.” Forgiving is not only something I do for someone else’s benefit, it is something that allows me to be free and be at peace.

There is no such thing as a perfect family. God’s love must be the model of our love, just as his forgiveness should be the model and foundation of our forgiveness. If we forgive our family members, we witness to a God that forgives, a merciful God.

Let us pray that we may love as God loves us and forgive as he forgives us, especially in our family. Amen.

Ash Wednesday Resources

The Church celebrates Ash Wednesday on March 6 this year. Catholics receive ashes and recommit themselves to prayer, fasting, and sharing of resources. It’s a good time to review the rules for fasting and abstinence and share them with your families. While most of the children are not required to observe these rules (the minimum age is 14), many families choose to make a Lenten sacrifice together. Discuss with the children what “giving up” things for Lent really means. We share in the suffering of Jesus and of others and become more mindful of those who lack. This Visions activity may be used with all ages as a review of the types of sacrifices Catholics make during Lent—prayer, almsgiving, or fasting. Make sure that the children understand that “almsgiving” does not mean that one must give money. Service is also a very acceptable gift. Brainstorm ways they may share their time and gifts. This Ash Wednesday Prayer Service for families provides time to write Lenten commitments and prayerfully begin this contemplative season.

Mass Schedule for Ash Wednesday: 
10:30 AM (Ashes Only) Yorktown Nursing and Rehab
12:00 Noon (Mass and Ashes) San Luis Mission
7 PM (Mass and Ashes) Holy Cross Catholic Church 
 

A Pair of March Saints: Frances of Rome, John of God

Things were clearly different in the 15th century. At just 11 years old, Frances of Rome announced that she was committing her life to God as a religious sister. Her family resisted, so Frances dutifully married at 13. But, along with her sister-in-law, Frances still found a way to live a life committed to serving the poor and the sick. Saint Frances of Rome is a model of service for children, especially during Lent. Her feast day is March 9.

Like Saint Frances, Saint John of God is known for serving the sick. However, this patron of Catholic hospitals didn’t start out so saintly. He called himself a terrible sinner, an army man leading a wild life. Inspired by the teaching of Saint John of Avila, John of God launched headlong into a total conversion of his life. He punished himself severely for his sins until John of Avila encouraged him to put his efforts into helping others. Share the life of Saint John of God with your children. His feast day is March 8.