Walking With Purpose is offering a Lenten Bible Study for women. This opportunity can assist with yor Lenten observance, helping you grow in awareness and prayer as a daughter of the Living God. Click Title for sign up details.
Limited Masses will re-open – Saturdays at 5 pm beginning June 27th and Sundays at 9:30 am beginning June 28th. Reservations are required. Please read the following carefully.
Mark 16:15-16 Jesus said to His disciples: “Go into the whole world and proclaim the gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned.”
Palms will be blessed on Sunday and will be available for pickup in baskets outside the Church's front doors from 12 to 3 p.m. Please use the Contact Us portal here on the website if you have any questions.
Romans 5:8: But God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. John 4:13-14: Whoever drinks this water will get thirsty again; but anyone who drinks the water that I shall give will never be thirsty again; the water that I shall give will turn into a spring inside him, welling up to eternal life.
Attention All Parishioners: In recent days all those on our mailing list were sent the letter printed below. As you know from previous years this is our annual major solicitation of funds for the Archdiocese and indirectly for the Parish as well. Your contributions strengthen the work of the Church throughout the Archdiocese of San Francisco; and when we meet the assessment, but especially when we go over our assessment, our parish here at Immaculate Heart of Mary. This weekend I will speak at all the Masses. This weekend March 7-8th is Pledge Sunday. Thank you for your continued generosity.
During these first days of Lent we have had a chance to put into effect our spiritual battle plan. The gospels since Ash Wednesday have reminded us of the need to pray, to do penance, and to love our neighbor, which reveal to us the loving face of our heavenly Father. However, in this short time it is possible to begin to think that this Lent business is not really that hard after all. It just requires a little will power, nothing more. What is the big deal?
On Ash Wednesday, February 26 , this coming week, the Catholic Church throughout the world will begin the solemn season of prayer, fasting, penance, and almsgiving known as Lent. I like to recall that the word “Lent”, used only in the English speaking world, goes way back to ancient Anglo-Saxon days. You can still see in it the sense of “lengthening” referring to the time of longer days or what we call spring. Thus, Lent is springtime for our souls. It is that special time of year when the Church in the name of our Lord and Savior calls all of its members to conversion and new life in Christ. The Lord Himself invites us to enter more fully into the great mystery of His death and resurrection.
In order to prevent any misunderstanding in the parish, I am writing this brief explanation to you. By now most parishioners know that the Traditional Latin Mass is celebrated at IHM on the first and fourth Sundays of each month. Beginning on Sunday, February 23 , we will have a Traditional Latin Mass every Sunday at 4pm. There will also be a Latin Mass for Ash Wednesday at 5pm. Please note the time change from 5pm to 4pm on the Sundays.
The Catholic Church is well known for its use of blessed, lighted candles, which are a traditional symbol that represents Jesus, the light of the world, a light shining in the darkness. You may recall that Christmas is celebrated at the darkest time of the year to symbolically show the contrast between spiritual light and dark: the light that Christ brings to the world and to souls opposes and triumphs over the darkness brought by Satan. The Church has traditionally used beeswax candles to further symbolize purity, authenticity, and industry as reflected in the work of virgin bees. In addition, to give light the candle is burned, it is sacrificed, as a reminder in our worship that Jesus Christ saved us by His Sacrifice on the Cross, the Supreme Sacrifice of Love. To know true love we too must take up the cross and lay down our lives in love of God and neighbor.
It is often said these days that we live in a divided nation. Sometimes these divisions are expressed in negative, hateful, even tragic ways. Regardless where we stand, those of various points of view need to respect civil discourse. The late Archbishop Niederauer often said that it is one thing to disagree but another to be disagreeable. Though the cause of violence is not always clear, it is clear there must be no place for violence or taking the law into one’s own hands. Though we have made much progress, there is always the danger of the mob mentality, which sets aside the truth to attain what may appear to be the truth at the moment. God gave us brains to think, to be rational. Emotions are not our thinking. There are always good, sound reasons for the positions we hold. When irrational ways dominate then there is the loss of true freedom. The will to power is not the way to take. One of the articulate and gentle leaders of the civil rights movement often reminded us that “When you know better you do better!” As Christians we should always strive to be and do the best we can. In fact, because of our beliefs we have an even greater responsibility to know better and then do better.
In the tradition of the Church there are actually three epiphanies (a triptych as it were): the coming of the three Kings, the Baptism of the Lord, and finally the Lord’s first miracle at Cana in Galilee. The word “epiphany” means to “make manifest.” Liturgically, the celebration of the Lord’s Nativity soon gives way to the celebration of the Lord’s public ministry at the age of thirty. Remember, Jesus spent thirty years obeying, three years teaching, and three hours redeeming (Fulton Sheen). ...
The Solemnity of the Baptism of the Lord officially closes the Christmas season. Hopefully, the graces received during this joyful time will continue to sustain us as we move along into the New Year. .... The Baptism of the Lord reminds us of our own baptism, when we first entered into the death and resurrection of the Lord. The waters of baptism wash away the Original Sin of our first parents, Adam and Eve, that we are born into; and at the same time bring us into communion with God, the Father, God, the Son, and God, the Holy Spirit. Because Jesus is the beloved Son of the Father, we are beloved sons and daughters of the same loving God. ...
The Feast of the Epiphany always captivates the imagination. Who were these wise men, or as tradition calls them, kings? Actually, little is known. We know that they first consulted King Herod; we know that they returned home by a different route so as to avoid leading Herod to the Holy Family; we know that they followed a star, found the Lord, and then offered gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Nevertheless, this little tells us a lot in our own journey of faith. Remember, what happened then continues to happen today. .....
Christmastide is not only a time to reflect on the holy mysteries of our salvation, but a time of renewed relationships with family and friends. ... There are many ways families enjoy each other’s company, showing by simple gestures of kindness that their love remains strong and vibrant. To treasure family life is one of the many graces of Christmastide. ...
Philippians 4:4-6; Ps. 85:1 Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete. Modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus: Dominus enim prope est. Nihil solliciti sitis; sed in omni oratione petitiones vestrae innotescant apud Deum. Benedixisti, Domine, terram tuam, avertisti captivitatem Jacob. Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say, rejoice. Let your modesty be known to all men: for the Lord is nigh. Be nothing solicitous; but in every thing by prayer let your petitions be made known to God. Lord, Thou has blessed Thy land; Thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.
Romans 15:5-6 Deus autem patientiae, et solatii, det vobis idipsum sapere in alterutrum secundum Jesum Christum: ut unanimes, uno ore honorificetis Deum at patrem Domini nostri Jesu Christi. (Douay-Rheims translation) Now the God of patience and of comfort grant you to be of one mind one towards another, according to Jesus Christ: that with one mind and with one mouth you may glorify God and the Father of Our Lord Jesus Christ. (New American Bible translation) May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ...