March 21 Parish E-Bulletin for the Fifth Sunday of Lent

Fifth Sunday of Lent

March 21, 2021

SUNDAY READINGS

SUNDAY REFLECTION

Dear Parishioners,

During this month, as we draw close to Holy Week, we remember that day when we were asked to “stay-at-home” due to the pandemic. For many, it was the beginning of tremendous difficulty but of challenge as well. President Biden, on the one-year anniversary of the pandemic, described it well, “While it was different for everyone, we all lose something—a collective suffering, a collective sacrifice, a year filled with the loss of life and the loss of living for all of us.” The words “collective suffering…collective sacrifice” are very striking. We can all relate to them.

Amid this “collective suffering and collective sacrifice”, we were planted or, shall we say, buried in the shelter of our homes. Jesus calls this as a moment of “glorification”—and compares it to a grain of wheat that is buried and dies to itself in order to produce the potential life within it. Jesus was that seed that was thrown to the ground. But he rose producing much fruit. We are all that fruit of the “dying” and “burying” of Jesus.

Indeed, we all “died” and “buried” in many ways during the pandemic. But it is good for us to reflect, what “fruit” did I produce? Did I “produce much fruit”? During this “collective suffering and collective sacrifice” have we become the people God calls us to be?

President Biden mentioned some aspects of “produce” during our “dying” and “burying”, during our “collective suffering” and “collective sacrifice”, during, what Jesus calls, “glorification” moments. “But in the loss, we saw how much there was to gain in appreciation, respect, and gratitude. Finding light in darkness is a very American thing to do.” Those words tell us that it is only by giving to others do we receive, only by dying do we rise to new life.

Grain seed is extremely small in size. But everything in life starts with the seed, every human life starts with the seed. The harvest is in the seed. The forest is in the seed. During the Lenten season, it feels like God is killing you as you hear about “dying” and “burying”. It will seem like you’re getting buried. But let us still be grateful that you are getting planted because in this “collective suffering” and “collective sacrifice” God is making “a new covenant” written upon our hearts (from First Reading).” We pray that we “produce much fruit” as a community of disciples of the Crucified Jesus.

Fr. Generoso Geronimo

LITURGY

MASS SCHEDULE

WEEKDAYS

Monday - Friday 8:00 AM

INDOOR & Live-Streamed

(For weekdays indoor - signup is at the door)

WEEKENDS

Sunday Vigil - Saturday 5:00 PM

INDOOR & Live-Streamed

Sunday 8:30 AM and 10:00 AM

OUTDOORS & IN-CAR

Sunday 11:30 AM

INDOOR

As per Santa Clara County regulations, sign-ups are required for in-person Masses. If you would like to attend Mass indoors, outdoors or in your car, please use the buttons on the right to sign-up. For assistance, call the parish office at 408-294-8953.

MASS INTENTIONS

March 20 - March 26

To schedule a Mass intention, please email stmartinoftours@icloud.com.

Saturday 5:00pm - Adolph Quilici †

Sunday 8:30am - James & Vincee Viso †

Sunday 10:00am - Billy Urbani †

Sunday 11:30am - John Rossi † & Judy McQuillen †

Monday 8:00am - Tony LaPres †

Tuesday 8:00am - Arturo Ochoa †

Wednesday 8:00am - Right to Life

Thursday 8:00am - Lydia Zapanta †

Friday 8:00am - Enrique D. Latoza †

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE DECEASED:

Sandy Dias

Mary Harrington

Sean Reed

Tony LaPres

Alice de Marco

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE SICK:

Aidan Macken

John Steffens

Ernesto Damasco

Phuong Huu Nguen

Tom Bommarito

Helena Knapen

Jennine Inghran

Please pray with us for our parishioners, family and friends.

PRAYER ANGELS MINISTRY

Prayer is one of the greatest gifts you can give another. If you or someone you know is in need of prayers (sick, deceased, birthday, anniversary...), please email Therese Lehane at tlehane@stmartin.org and let our Prayer Angels pray for you or someone you know.

LENTEN & HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE

ALMSGIVING

MARCH 19, 2021

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Food Box Packing

This program provides food to anyone. Supplies include 2 bags of dry food as well as dairy, fruit, vegetables and meat.

ALL OF LENT

CRS Rice Bowl

Lenten program of global solidarity and sacrificial giving. Bowls/envelopes due by April 11, 2021.

FASTING

FAST DAYS

Ash Wednesday & Good Friday

One full meal, two light meals; no eating between meals. Ages 18-60

DAYS OF ABSTINENCE

All Fridays During Lent

No meat for those over age 14.

More Lenten Resources

As per Santa Clara County regulations, sign-ups are required for in-person Masses. Sign-ups will be available the Monday prior to Masses/Services. For assistance, call the parish office at 408-294-8953.

LENTEN REFLECTIONS

PEACE & SOCIAL JUSTICE

St. Martin’s Peace and Justice Committee (PJC) has been offering a unique opportunity to pray and reflect on the Stations of the Cross, through a women’s perspective, this Lenten season. This program sponsored by a sub-group of the PJC entitled “Empowered Women Working for Justice in the Church and the World” will conclude its final presentation of the stations of the cross on Monday, March 22, at 7PM. Please join us as we focus on stations 13-15. We hope this will be a time to reflect on how the stations can challenge us to see the particular pain and struggles women continue to face today—and how women uniquely share in Jesus’ redemptive suffering and work. After the stations have concluded we will ask participants to share their personal reflections on this experience of the stations.

JOIN HERE via Zoom

If you would like to print a worship Aid to the Stations of the Cross, please click on this link : http://bit.ly/3aXcDI1

STEWARDSHIP & DEVELOPMENT

ST. MARTIN OF TOUR FOOD BOX

THIS FRIDAY, MARCH 19TH

Food Box Distribution is held on the third Friday of every month from 4-6pm outside the Church. This is a drive thru service. It is done in a very safe way and Covid friendly. Supplies include 2 bags of dry food as well as dairy, fruit, vegetables and meat. Each month supplies differ depending on what is available. Everyone qualifies for this service. If you have any questions please email tlehane@stmartin.org or call Therese at the Parish office 408-294-8953 ext 316.

Thanks to those who have already responded with a gift to the 2021 Annual Diocesan Appeal. To date we have raised $101,171 toward our goal through the support of 237 households. There is still plenty of time to respond with a gift to this year’s Appeal. Gifts can be made through our parish office or online at www.dsj.org/ADA.

Donate Now

“We brought nothing into the world, nor have we the power to take anything out...those who want to be rich are falling into temptation and a trap...the love of money is the root of all evil.” -1 Timothy 6:7-9

If you would like to make a secure one time donation and/or setup regular on line donations, please click on the picture above.

Donations for second collections can also be made online.

Thank you for your continued financial support!!

Office open by appointment:

Monday - Thursday 10 AM to 5 PM

If you or a loved one is in need of Sacramental care, such as anointing of the sick, last rites, confession, Fr. Gener and Fr. Saju are available to assist you. Please contact them directly.

Click on the picture above for the

Staff Directory

FAITH FORMATION & SPIRITUALITY

FAMILY REFLECTION AND ACTION

March 21, 2021 5th Sunday in Lent

Jeremiah 31:31-34 • Hebrews 5:7-9 • John 12:20-33

“Whoever loves his life loses it, and whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life.” —John 12:25

Today’s scripture from the Gospel sounds kind of confusing. Most of us like our lives. It is hard to understand why we would lose it just because we like it. But I think that Jesus is looking deeper than what meets the eye. In different words, “whoever loves his life more than God will lose it and whoever puts God first will gain eternal life.” If we live our lives only to please ourselves, we lose out in the end. But if we learn to put God first in our lives, we take steps closer to being with him forever in heaven.

Prayer: Dear Lord, help me to put you first, even before all the things I want. Teach me to seek you in all I do.

Reflection: What are ways I put myself ahead of God? How can I make a change to start putting God before myself?

CHILDREN'S SUNDAY BULLETIN & ACTIVITIES

Web Link for this week - Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities:

CLICK HERE

ST. MARTIN OF TOURS SCHOOL NEWS

Welcome to the St. Martin Community Cookbook! We realize our families have been cooking at home much more and may have special recipes to share or need new ideas. Do you have a great sourdough bread recipe or your own personal twist on a classic? In the “Notes” section, please make sure to add your family name and students and graduation years, and/or your alumni year. Please be sure to tell us if this recipe is special/important and why. Submit Recipe Here

AROUND THE DIOCESE & COMMUNITY

Message on the Year of St. Joseph from Bishop Cantú: On December 8, 2020, Pope Francis declared a special Year of St. Joseph to run through December 8, 2021. This marks the 150th anniversary of the declaration of St. Joseph as Patron of the Universal Church by Pope Pius IX. Pope Francis began the year with a new Apostolic Letter entitled Patris Corde. Read the letter from Bishop Cantú about the Year of St. Joseph, our 40th Jubilee, and the ten pilgrimage sites within our Diocese for the Year of Saint Joseph. ENGLISH | SPANISH | VIETNAMESE

Visit the Diocese of San Jose Year of St. Joseph Webpage: We hope that through using these resources you will grow in love and devotion St. Joseph as the guardian and protector of God’s people, the Church. May Saint Joseph and the Holy Family intercede for us in this work of rededicating ourselves to the mission of Jesus Christ. www.dsj.org/yearofstjoseph

Covid-19 Vaccines Explained Ethics: As a faith community concerned about the sanctity of human life, the Diocese of San Jose encourages everyone to strongly consider getting vaccinated, after consulting their physicians or health care providers, for the sake of their own health and the common good of our community. The vaccines are safe and free. Health insurance and immigration status will not affect your eligibility. You can learn more about the moral and ethical issues regarding COVID-19 vaccines and why they have been deemed morally acceptable by the Church by visiting: https://www.dsj.org/covid19vaccines/

UPCOMING EVENTS

MARCH 19, 2021

7:00 PM

Diocesan 40th Anniversary Jubilee Mass on

the Feast of St. Joseph

On Friday, March 19, 2021, the Feast of St. Joseph during the Year of St. Joseph, the Diocese of San José will mark its Fortieth Anniversary at a Mass to be celebrated at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph. Seating in the Cathedral Basilica will be limited due to pandemic restrictions. Bishop Oscar Cantú invites the faithful to join this special celebration via livestream at the Diocese’s Facebook page Please share images to your social media: Facebook, Instagram.

MARCH 23, 2021

5:00 PM

2021 Chrism Mass

During Mass, Bishop Cantú will consecrate the sacred Chrism and bless the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens. Chrism is used throughout the year in the sacraments of baptism and confirmation and during ordination. This Mass is concelebrated by the priests of our diocese who publicly renew their promises to serve. Please join this special celebration via livestream at the Diocese’s Facebook page to pray for and offer encouragement to our bishop, our diocese's retired bishops, and our priests whose vocations are "born from an encounter of love: with Jesus, and with the People of God.” (Pope Francis). Please share the event images to your social media: Facebook, Instagram.

MONDAYS: MARCH 8 - 29, 2021

7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Grief Boot Camp 2021| Into the Desert

More Information

RESOURCES & ASSISTANCE

Health & Safety

Behavioral Health Services, Santa Clara County - Flyer

Santa Clara County Public Health Department

California Public Health Department

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Youth & Young Adult Wellness Online

Food & Rental Assistance

City of San Jose Rental Assistance

Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County Food Distribution

Questions?

Please email the Parish Office.