SUNDAY READINGS

SUNDAY REFLECTION

(PRACTICING) CATHOLIC - RECOGNIZE GOD

IN YOUR ORDINARY MOMENTS

By Colleen Jurkiewicz Dorman

Cut to the Heart

Everyone who has been married knows this feeling: you’re in the midst of a disagreement with your spouse. You’ve really dug in your heels. You’re ready to die on this hill. And you have the awful, heartbreaking realization that you are wrong. Whatever it is you’re arguing about, you’re wrong. You.

So where do you go from here? The only way forward is to own it. Fess up. Grab a fork and dig into that humble pie. It makes me cringe just to write about it, because it’s the worst feeling.

I use the example of marriage because it’s the one I’m most familiar with — my closest relationship, the one that teaches me the most about who I am and who God asks me to be. But this is a universal experience, and everyone — single or married, child or adult, lay or ordained — knows how badly it feels to realize that you’re wrong. You’re human. You messed up.

It is hard to recognize that the Christian life is one of ongoing repentance. It is painful to acknowledge the ways in which we are falling short, even as we strive to follow in Christ’s example.

It can, in the words of today’s reading, “cut to the heart.”



But that feeling of despair is what propels forward motion. We have to allow ourselves to feel bad, that’s the fertile ground of penitence. We are meant to have not just life, but life “more abundantly.” Stasis isn’t the goal. Baptism isn’t the finish line.

Examining our conscience is hard. It cuts to the heart. It cuts to the truth.

"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins.” — Acts 2:38

©LPi

WEEKDAYS

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 8:00 AM

In the Church & Online

Wednesday 8:15 AM

In the Church & Online

WEEKENDS

Sunday Vigil - Saturday 5:00 PM

In the Church & Online

Sunday

8:30 AM, 10:00 AM & 11:30 AM

In the Church

RECONCILIATION - Saturdays 4:00 PM In the Church

Online Mass Links: Zoom | Facebook

April 29 - May 5, 2023

To schedule a Mass intention, please stop by the parish office.

Saturday 5:00PM

Danilo Ignacio (Recovery)

Sunday 8:30 

Lucila † and Florentino Alemania

Grace Squatritto †

Sunday 10:00

J.W. Knapen †

Rodger "OB" O'Brien

Sunday 11:30

Teresa Fontaine (Healing)

Monday 8:00 

Joe Salberg †

Tuesday 8:00

Mark Sudyka †

Wednesday 8:15

Lucila Palmaras Alemania †

Thursday 8:00

James & Vincee Viso †

Kathleen Mary †

& Ronald James Sieben †

Friday 8:00

Souls in Purgatory

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE DECEASED:

Anthony Hole, Mark Sudyka, Tran V. Luu, Kyle Andersen, Nina Yabut,

Joy Albanese, Albert Hagmann

 PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE SICK:

Suzie Cisneros, Larry Snap, Sue Ferketich, Carol Votano, Patricia Toschi,

Vern Lopes, Helena Knapen, Mary Lou Lawrence, Roger "OB" O'Brien

April 28, 2023  

Prayer Shawl

in the Bailey House from 12:30—2:00 PM

Please contact Mary Kay at mktocce2@aol.com for more information.

April 29, 2023  

Multicultural Springfest Celebration

in the gym at 6:00 PM

All our welcome. Please join us. Ticket information can be found on the back of the bulletin.

May 1, 2023  

Scripture Study

in the Bailey House from 6:30—8:00 PM

All our welcome. Please join us.

May 2, 2023  

I.C.F Monthly Meeting

in the gym from 6:00—8:00 PM

Please contact Steve at slencion@outlook.com for further information.

May 3, 2023

St. Vincent de Paul (SVdP) Monthly Meeting

in the Bailey House from 7:00—9:00 PM

Please contact Mary Kay at mktocce2@aol.com for more information.

May 4, 2023

Holy Hour (Adoration & Benediction) with Happy Hour

in the church at 7:00 PM

Please join us.

For a complete list of Parish events:

PARISH COMMUNITY CALENDAR

What’s an Extraordinary Minister (EM)

of Holy Communion?

“Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion” is the formal title of laypeople who distribute the Eucharist during Mass. As the title implies, there are also “ordinary ministers” – those who are literally “ordained” to the ministry namely bishops, priests, and deacons. These ministers are usually the first in order to distribute the Body and Blood of Christ.

To serve as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, persons must:

· Be practicing Catholics, distinguished in their Christian life, faith, and morals.

· Have received the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist.

· Demonstrate a deep reverence for and devotion to the Eucharist.

· Be an active registered member of our parish.

· Willing to be trained and undergo formation.

If you are interested, please call the parish office to register to become one.

Training will be announced soon.

Parish Support

We thank you for your continued support of the St. Martin of Tours Parish! If you would like to make a secure one-time donation and/or setup regular online donations, please use the GIVE TODAY button below. Thank you again!!

ADA 2023

Supporting Our Mission Together

Our Parish Goal: $148,624

Thank you so much! As of April 17, 2023, we have received 292 pledges. The total amount pledged is $119,063. We need $29,561 more to meet our goal.

If you have not made your pledge, we invite you to prayerfully consider supporting our Diocese. Donations can be made by completing the pledge card mailed to your home, or online at DSJ.org/ADA. Thank you for your continued generosity. The many ministries within our parish and greater community would not be possible without you!

Dates to Remember...

Children’s Catechetical Ministry and First Eucharist

May 3 – 4:00 PM to 5:15 PM CCM sessions for children

May 6 – 5:00 PM Mass    First Communion

May 7 – 10:00 AM Mass  First Communion

Youth Confirmation

May 17 – 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM rehearsal for Confirmation Mass in the church

May 20 – 5:00 PM Mass Celebration of Confirmation

Adult Confirmation

May 17 - 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM rehearsal for Confirmation Mass in the church

May 20 – 5:00 PM Mass Celebration of Confirmation

June 10 – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Mystagogy Retreat in the Bailey House

Order of Christian Initiation (formerly RCIA)  

June 10 – 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM Mystagogy Retreat in the Bailey House

Family Reflection

April 30, 2023 4th Sunday of Easter

Acts 2:14a, 36-41 • 1 Peter 2:20b-25 • John 10:1-10

“I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. Whoever enters through me will be saved.” -John 10:7-9

Sheep are the kind of animals that will only follow the voice of their shepherd because they know they can trust him. They feel safe with the shepherd and know they won’t get harmed. Jesus wants us to follow his voice, which is telling us that we can trust him because he always wants what is best and most life-giving for us. If someone was merely hired to watch the sheep, when danger came that person might run off to protect himself instead of the sheep. Jesus is saying that he will never abandon us, just like he didn’t abandon his disciples.

PRAYER: Dear Good Shepherd, help us to trust you, listen to your voice, and know in our hearts you will never abandon us.

REFLECTION: What are some ways Jesus shepherds you?

Knowing Our Faith

(excerpts from the Catechism of the Catholic Church)

Is Sacred Scripture true?

“God is the author of Sacred Scripture. God inspired the human authors of the sacred books. ‘To compose the sacred books, God chose certain men who, all the while he employed them in this task, made full use of their own faculties and powers so that, though he acted in them, it was as true authors that they consigned to writing whatever he wanted written, and no more’”.  (CCC 105, 106)

Friday, April 28, 2023 at 7:00 PM

Church on Fire

Presented by: Bart Schuchts

Queen of Apostles Church, 4911 Moorpark Ave.

Come be inspired, encouraged, transformed and set on fire with the sweet and powerful presence of the Holy Spirit and the tender compassion of Jesus as you encounter the amazing love of the father. For more information, www.qofa.org/church-on-fire.

Friday, May 12, 2023 from 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Rosary & Faith Talk

Hosted by Guadalupe Hope Society

Deacon Joe Cabrido, from St. Francis of Assisi, will lead the Rosary and share a faith talk. This event will be in-person and virtual viz zoom.

This event is free to attend. Please email admin@ghswomenscenter.com or call (408) 447-5433 to reserve your seat at the Santa Maria Hall. This event will be streamed online too.

Click HERE for Flyer

Diocesan Mental Health Information and Events: 

Dial 988 – for Mental Health resources in your area. Suicide Hotline 855-278-4204. NAMI Warmline (multilingual): 408-453-0400 Mon-Fri 10am to 6pm. For more information click here.

When a Loved One Dies by Suicide - series intended to bring the message of the book "How to discern God's Will for your Life". Resource from Deacon Ed Shoener, founder of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers – for article, free eBook, and more click CRUX: Ministry helps families of suicide victims. 

Parish Mental Health Listening Sessions:

• Santa Teresa Parish – Hear & Be Heard – Every first Sunday of the month at 1:00pm. Age 16 & up are welcome. More information contact Lynda.demanti@dsj.org 
• St. Simon Parish – Monthly Hope & Healing Wellness Circle – every third Monday of the month from 7:00pm – 8:15pm. More information contact roselue@gmail.com. 

Questions?

Please email the Parish Office.