Dear Parishioners:
- It is a difficult year for “sharing faith through Zoom”, but our Faith Formation process is happening in all levels. This Saturday, February, 6 after the 6:30 PM Mass, the C.I.A. (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults), will have a Rite of Welcoming to official present the Catechumens (never been baptized) and Candidates (have been baptized in another Christian faith or Catholic Faith as an infant) to our parish community to ask for your prayers and to accompany them through the Holy Season of Lent and Easter. Please keep these Catechumens and Candidates in your prayers.
- In Mark’s Gospel (Mk 1:29-29), the healing of Simon's mother-in-law proclaims Jesus' power to heal all sorts of fevers. With Jesus, healing of mind and body becomes a clear sign that the Kingdom of God is already present. Jesus' healing Word of power reaches the whole person: it heals the body and even more important, it restores those who suffer to a healthy relationship with God and with the community.
From prior to today’s verses, the Book of Job (7:1-7), Job has endured immense suffering and loss. He knows that the shallow theological explanations of his friends are not God’s ways; but still, he is at a loss to understand his own suffering. Job complains of hard labor, sleepless nights, a dreadful disease and the brevity of his hopeless life. For Job, all of life is a terrible fever! How often do we experience “Job” moments in our own life as our fevers burn away?
It is important to recognize what Jesus did after he healed the woman in today’s story. He took time away to strengthen himself through prayer.
- Do we do the same in the midst of our busy worlds in which we live, in the midst of the burning fevers of life and the burdens of our daily work?
The healing power of Jesus is still effective today -- reaching out to us to heal us and restore us to life.
- HEALING isn’t just physical, but also, spiritual. The Children of our two parishes, St. Gabriel and Prince of Peace, are engaged in their second Sacrament called “Reconciliation” as they’re deepen their Baptismal graces in spiritual healing through the understanding of God’s Love and Forgiveness. As this week Scripture readings allude to this gift of Healing, our second graders are prepared for the experience of God’s Love in the gift of “Forgiveness” in this coming Lenten Season and offer a “Life of Grace” to continue to grow in Faith. “Parents” - thank you for passing on the gift of Faith and nurtured this Faith in your families. “Catechists” - thank you for sharing and modeling your gift of Faith in helping educated these children from our parish community.
- About 11 days from the time you read this bulletin letter, the Church will lead us to another Liturgical Season called LENT. Lenten Season will begin on February 17 - ASH WEDNESDAY. This is a special time for us as Christian to renew our commitment in following Jesus and most especially for those who prepare to receive the sacraments of – Baptism, Confirmation, Reconciliation and Eucharist – including those in R.C.I.A, Junior High, High School and Adult Confirmation Candidates, Children preparing for First Sacraments of Reconciliation and Eucharist. Please, keep these people in your prayer as they prepare for these Sacraments.
- Lastly, ---HAPPY LUNAR NEW YEAR 2021 (Chinese New Year 4719) … So, if you have a friend who is Vietnamese, Chinese or other Asian Cultures who celebrate Lunar New Year; the year of the Ox (Chinese) or Buffalo (Vietnamese) will be Friday, February 12, 2021. Please wish him/her a Happy, Good Health and Prosperous New Year. Lunar New Year can be anywhere between mid-January to mid-February every year.
Have a wonderful week in the Joy of the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Christ’s Peace,
Fr. Phuong Hoang