Pastor's letter and Mass Times

SAINT ANTHONY

PARISH

Dear Parishioners,

Every time we pray the creed, we proclaim that we look forward to the resurrection of the dead. Today’s Gospel invites us to reflect on this tenet of our faith. What exactly are we looking forward to?

In today’s Gospel, the disciples are wrestling with what might be a common, even if unconscious, concern. Is the resurrection a promise of some kind of ghost-life? Is it something somehow less-real than the life we are living here and now?

Jesus’ embodiment in this passage tells us the answer is “no.” The promise of the kingdom is one that includes an understanding that the next life, not this one, contains the fullness of the kingdom. We have more to look forward to, not less. Jesus is living new life, but in a glorified body. We do not know what such a body will look like, exactly, or how we are meant to exist in it.

What we do know is that “We believe in God who is creator of the flesh; we believe in the Word made flesh in order to redeem the flesh; we believe in the resurrection of the flesh, the fulfillment of both the creation and the redemption of the flesh” (CCC 1015). Or, as the early Christian author Tertullian says, more succinctly, “The flesh is the hinge of salvation” (1015).

In Genesis, God creates humans, forming our bodies from the dust of the earth and breathing his very breath to give us life. God looks at us, body and soul, and declares that we are “very good.” Again and again in the Scriptures, we hear how Jesus is the fulfillment of all of God’s promises of salvation. And, in this Gospel story, Saint Luke highlights that Jesus will save us, body and soul. He has come to save us, our whole self.

This means that our body is not some sort of hindrance or burden that keeps us from Jesus’ promise. On the contrary, our souls, separated at death from our human body, will be reunited on the last day, and we will begin life anew immortal, incorruptible, perfected in senses (Cf., CCC 1016; St Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologica, Supplement, 82-85).

This is why we physically come to Mass, why we engage in corporate, public worship. This is why the liturgy is not just thoughts or work we somehow do in our hearts. The work of our mind and our heart in this liturgy is vital, but it is intrinsically connected with our physical responses. We kneel, we use our vocal cords to respond, we make a throne of our hands to receive our King, we bow before our Lord in the Eucharist. We respond to God’s saving presence here with our mind, our heart, and our body. And God acts in all of this to save us, body and soul.

This is the promise of Christ’s defeat of death. It is a victory over all that would separate us from God – physical or spiritual. May we, in this Eucharist, open our hearts to receive God’s saving grace as we taste and see his presence with us today. May we draw ever nearer to the promise of salvation in the resurrection of the dead. May we, like the disciples, touch and see Christ’s loving action here with us today.

Blessings,

Fr. Tad

MASS ETIQUETTE

Remember to silence, turn off, and put away your cell phones, tablets, and gaming devices prior the start of Mass.

Remember not to chew a gum in the church, especially during Mass.

Keep in mind the Communion fast – we are to fast from food and drink (water and medicine excluded) one hour before receiving Holy Communion. Let us prepare our body and soul to worthily receive our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

When we are in the church (specifically in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament), we should keep our volume to a reverential whisper, if conversation is necessary. This is to promote prayer to prepare our hearts and minds for Mass. Thank you for your mindfulness.

FR. TAD’S 28th ORDINATION ANNIVERSARY

Please join us next Sunday, Apr 21, in celebrating Fr. Tad’s Ordination Anniversary. Our Hospitality Sunday Committee will offer delicious homemade treats immediately after 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM Mass.

Let’s show our appreciation for our pastor!

DAYTIME EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

April 17, 2024

"Certainly amongst all devotions, after that of receiving the sacraments, that of adoring Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament holds first place, is most pleasing to God, and most useful to ourselves. Do not then, O devout soul, refuse to begin this devotion; and forsaking the conversation of men, dwell each day, from this time forward, for at least half or quarter of an hour, in some church, in the presence of Jesus Christ under the sacramental species. Taste and see how sweet is the Lord."- St. Alphonsus Liguori

Please join us Wednesday, April 17, at 8:00 AM Mass. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will begin immediately after Mass, and it will end at 12:00 PM with praying of the Chaplet of the Divine Mercy and the Benediction.

THANK YOU!

Together, we changed lives this Lent through CRS Rice Bowl. THANK YOU for being a part of this effort! Don’t forget to turn in your CRS Rice Bowl at the Church or donate online at crsricebowl.org/donate.

Have you ever tried to “Sing the Hours”?

The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office or Breviary, is the daily prayer of the universal church, with prayers dispersed at intervals throughout the day to sanctify time and work. The Office is organized around the Psalms, which train our voices speak and sing along with the voice of Christ.

Now, there is a new and easy way to learn the Liturgy of the Hours, by listening to the twice-daily podcast “Sing the Hours” with Paul Rose. Visit SingTheHours.org to get started! After a few weeks of listening and praying and singing along, you will find the timeless prayers of Jesus and His Church becoming your own prayers as well!

SAFE ENVIRONMENT TRAINING AND RENEWAL

Safe Environment Training is mandatory for diocesan clergy, employees and active volunteers working with youth or vulnerable adults. Safe Environment Training must be completed during the employee onboarding process or prior to volunteer participation. Training must be renewed every three (3) years.

VIRTUS Safe Environment Training is accessible from the VIRTUS website at www.virtusonline.org. Online training is available in English, Spanish, Vietnamese and Korean languages.

Please contact the Parish Office if you have any questions.

Goal: $92,582

Week 9: $112,880

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

Join Archbishop Cordileone and the perpetual Eucharistic pilgrims for the launch of the western route of the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage to Indianapolis, Indiana! The “Serra Route” will begin with Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Assumption at 11:00am on May 19, followed by a Eucharistic procession through the city of San Francisco and across the Golden Gate Bridge. On Monday, the pilgrimage continues through Marin County. The procession will stop at the Marina Green for a water stop and rest. Please bring your own lunch.

Note: This is also the same day as Bay to Breakers Race in San Francisco. Shared or public transportation is highly encouraged. Learn more: sfarch.org/eucharistic-revival.

Every April, the Diocese of San José joins the country in observance of Child Abuse Prevention Month as we continue to help create safer childhoods locally and nationwide. Though we work tirelessly year-round to create safe environments for our children, let us put a special emphasis this April to promote child abuse prevention in our parishes and schools.

April 28th - Blue Sunday National Day of Prayer: Churches of all faiths are asked to join together on this day of prayer to demonstrate support for children and families who have been affected by child abuse. If you would like to participate, we recommend praying the USCCB Prayer for Healing Victims of Abuse (https://www.usccb.org/issues-and-action/child-and-youth-protection/resources/upload/Bilingual-PC.pdf).

April 6th & 7th - Faith Community Wear Blue Weekend: We are encouraged to wear blue to show solidarity and support while raising awareness.

DONATIONS INFO

It is easier now more than ever to make your stewardship and second collection contributions online. A "Donate" button has been added to the upper right corner of the parish website home page and an "Online Giving" button to the end of each week's parish email. Clicking these buttons will take you directly to our online giving app.