Mass and Confession Schedule
Sunday
7:30 a.m. ⎪ 9 a.m. ⎪ 10:30 a.m. Gym Mass ⎪10:30 a.m. Church ⎪ 12:30 p.m.⎪ 5:30 p.m. Filipino Mass every 4th Sunday at 4 p.m.
Weekdays
6:30 a.m. (Except Federal Holidays)
8 a.m. ⎪ 11 a.m. ⎪ 5:30 p.m.
Saturday
8 a.m.⎪ 11 a.m.⎪5:30 p.m.
(Fullfills Sunday Obligation; Sign Interpreted)
Holy Days of Obligation
Eve Before the Feast - 5:30 p.m.
Feast Day - 6:30 a.m.⎪ 8 a.m. ⎪ 11 a.m.⎪ 5:30 p.m.
Sacrament Of Reconciliation (Confession)
Saturday: 4 to 5 p.m. and after the 5:30 p.m. Mass
Daily: After 11 a.m. Mass (when this Mass is celebrated)
Pastor's Column
May 13, 2012
In today’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter has made a long journey from Joppa to Caesarea to visit with Cornelius. Cornelius was a foreigner who had converted to Judaism but had experienced a vision. Cornelius pays homage to Peter when he arrives and Peter admonishes him for this however, he is moved by the faith of Cornelius and those who have gathered at his house. Peter declares, “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him.” Peter continues to preach when an extraordinary thing happened “when the Holy Spirit fell upon all who were listening to the word.” As at the first Pentecost in Jerusalem, these Gentiles of Caesarea were “speaking in tongues” and, impelled by the Spirit in their hearts, singing songs of praise to God. Peter than orders everyone to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ since they have already received the Holy Spirit.
In our second reading from the first Letter of St. John, we find the teaching on charity. Charity is the hallmark of the Christian—that by which we are judged. “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is of God; everyone who loves is begotten of God and knows God . . . for God is love.” Christian charity is not a vague, benevolent sentiment, so general and undefined that it ends up not being able to touch anyone. True Christian charity expresses itself in concrete ways: the way we love and serve our family members, neighbors and those in need. Charity is indispensable to the definition of our faith, which would otherwise be a lie. Whatever we say or do, “whoever is without love does not know God, for God is love.” Although experienced on the human level, charity must be supernatural: it is rooted in God. We will be recognized publicly and solemnly, by the Lord of glory on the day of judgment for how we have loved. He will give us the inheritance of the kingdom prepared for us since the creation of the world.
Our passage from John’s gospel, speaks to us of Jesus’ love for His disciples and us. At every moment Jesus speaks of love beginning with the Father’s love, “As the Father has loved me, so I also love you. Remain in my love.” The unfolding of salvation history is the story of God’s love for us. The Father has loved His Son who, in obedience, dies for us on the cross. He has chosen us for His friends, even before we have made the slightest movement toward Him. He has revealed to us everything He learned from the Father. The command we receive from Jesus is simple, “love one another.” This is the call to holiness that each of us receives at Baptism. The duty of active charity obliges each of us in our state of life as single, married, young, old, parents, children, religious, deacons, and priests. To love others because one loves God is, for the Christian, the greatest commandment, that must always direct our lives—this is how we bear “much” fruit in this world and come to our eternal home.
