The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Sirach 27:4-7; 1 Corinthians 15:54-58;Luke 6:39-45.  In the second reading we heard that death is no longer something to be feared, for it has been swallowed up by the victory of Christ: Where, O death, is your sting? Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection have transformed death into the road to eternal life. Therefore, in this life, we must labor with the steadfast hope of attaining heaven, certain that if we strive to serve the Lord our work is not in vain.

 



Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, 

Last Sunday Gospel, Jesus gave us the golden rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Today’s readings remind us to speak to each other in a Christian way. Through baptism we are called to proclaim and witness the Gospel in our speech and actions.  
The first reading from the book of prophet Sirach states the obvious: actions speak louder than words. According to Sirach, what we speak reveals our thoughts or character. As he puts it, it shows the bent of our mind. And in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus confirms the wisdom of Sirach by using the image of a tree and its fruit to tell us that we know a tree by its yield. Good fruit does not grow on thorn bushes. Whatever we say, it has to come out of our good intentions.  

Gossip is one of the habits that often tempt us to speak ill of others. A priest once shared, “a disciple came to Socrates ready to gossip about someone. Socrates stopped him and gave him a “triple filter test” about what he was going to say. “Are you sure that what you are going to tell me is true?” The disciple wasn’t sure, “Is it good?” No, it wasn’t. “Is it useful?” He wasn’t sure. Socrates said: “If what you want to tell me isn’t true, good or even useful, why should I hear it?” It is a good practice to filter our thoughts before we gossip about someone.” We can learn from the message that St. Paul gave to the Corinthians, where he invites us to speak positively like Jesus, so that we can produce good fruit.
 
This Wednesday is Ash Wednesday. We will begin our Lenten season. We are called to pray, fast and to give alms. Maybe throughout this Lent, we can together practice to speak or communicate with one another in a positive way.  

Have a blessed week! 

Fr. Tho 
Pastor

Mass Intentions For The Week
 
Sunday                              March 2, 2025
8:45     For the People of Saints Peter and Paul
10:15  Edward Sabini +
12:00  Gaetano Alioto + – Intention Thomas Faimali
5:00     Intention Deacon Edward Te 

Monday                             March 3, 2025 
7:00     Anniversary of the Death of Amelia DeNicolai +
9:00     Queena Maggiora & Fernanda Matteucci + 

Tuesday                            March 4, 2025
7:00     Nicola Sanguinetti +
9:00     Joseph Leo Torre & Family + – Rosina Cirelli + 

Wednesday                      March 5, 2025
7:00     Andrea Genoveffa +
9:00     Felice & Carmella Fazio + – Anthony Tin +
6:00     Peter Domenici & Peter Domenici, III + 

Thursday                          March 6, 2025
7:00     Louis DeNicolai + – Intention Gibbons Cooney
9:00     Edward Sabini + –  Joseph Machi + 

Friday                                March 7, 2025
7:00     Intention Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone
9:00     Thomas Mazzucco + – Siria Rissotto + 

Saturday                          March 8, 2025
7:30     Romeo DeMartini +
9:00     Fred Scolari +
5:00     Emma Marquez + 

Particular Items 

玫瑰經 Chinese Apostolate First Sunday Rosary: The Apostolate meets every first Sunday of the month (today) , following the 10:15 AM Mass, to pray the Rosary in the Don Bosco Room. 

Ash Wednesday: Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. It is an obligatory Day of Fast & Abstinence. The norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards. ALL Fridays of Lent are also obligatory days of abstinence.   We will have Masses at 7:00 & 9:00AM and 6:00PM. 

Bible Study with Fr. Vien! Every Thursday Fr. Vien will host weekly Bible Study at 7:00 PM. Come join with others and deepen your understanding of the Word of God! 

Stations of the Cross: We will have Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent at 6:30pm followed by a soup supper. The Salesian Cooperators will be hosting this Friday, March 7, at 6pm. All are welcome! 

Confession During Lent: We will not have a Lenten Penance Service this year. Instead, we encourage parishioners to seek the sacrament of Penance on Saturdays between 4-5PM, on Friday’s between 7:30 & 8:30AM, or by visiting the rectory during business hours. 

Eucharistic Adoration & Confession/ Anointing of the Sick: We have Adoration & Confession every Friday, following the 7:00 AM Mass. And on the first Friday of the month (this Friday) we have the Anointing following the 7:00 AM Mass. 

40 Days for Life Lenten Campaign! Join in peacefully praying for the end to abortion in San Francisco! The 40 Days for Life campaign runs from March 5 to April 13 at the Planned Parenthood business at 1522 Bush Street. You may sign up for vigil hours here www.40daysforlife.com/sanfrancisco. 

Archbishops Annual Appeal 2025! Our AAA for 2025 has begun. This year’s assessment is $65,600. So far 8parishioners/families have given $8,777, leaving us with a balance of $56,823. Join the 1% club—give $656! 

CALLED TO LEAD Catholic Men’s Conference 2025: On March 8, 2025, at St. Pius Church, the Archdiocese of San Francisco hosts the San Francisco Bay Area Catholic Men's Conference The day starts at 8:30AM, and includes Mass with Archbishop Cordileone and great speakers. Cost is $50. Visit sfarch.org/event/catholic-mens-conference/ 

Requiem Mass for Cardinal Ignatius Kung Pin-Mei 龚品梅: On the 25th Anniversary of his death, Archbishop Cordileone, joined by Cardinal Raymond Burke, will celebrate a Pontifical High Requiem Mass for the repose of the soul of Ignatius Cardinal Kung Pin-Mei. The Mass will be at 10:30 AM on March 15 at Star of the Sea Church, 8th Avenue & Geary, in San Francisco.  The heroic Cardinal Kung was the first Chinese Bishop of Shanghai, and he was imprisoned by the Communists for 30 years for resisting their attempts to control the Catholic Church in China, finally being released in 1986, although remaining under house arrest until 1988, the same year he settled in the U.S. Here is the Cardinal in a picture sometime in the 1990’s with our own heroic Fr. Mario Rosso, SDB. 

Mark your Calendars! & SAVE THE DATE! This year’s school Spring Fundraiser “The Greatest Show” will be on March 29 from  6:00-10:00 PM at  the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club. Live auction, DJ, Dancing, Live Auction and more! Details and tickets may be found by visiting ssppevents.org/spring-gala 

Catholic Care!
Support the ONLY Catholic Healthcare in San Francisco at the Bella Primary Care Founders Gala: Celebrate Bella’s third year of Life-Affirming Catholic Healthcare on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at St. Mary's Cathedral Event Center. 6:00 pm Cocktails | 7:00 PM Dinner. Proceeds from our gala will provide funding for our underinsured patients. For more info: bellafoundersgala.com 


Catholic Medical Care right in our Parish! Bella Primary Care offers primary & pediatric healthcare in accordance with Catholic principles. They are located at 2000 Van Ness Avenue, Suite 304, in San Francisco. Now scheduling appointments for: 
PEDIATRICS: Wellness visits for ages 6 months to 18 years with our pro-life pediatrician Dr. Virginia Schneider.
WOMEN and MEN: Comprehensive annual exam.
EXPECTANT MOMS: Pregnancy verification, initial ultrasound and blood work.
FERTILITY: Initial and follow-up appointments using natural fertility assessment methods. 
For appointments, call 415-775-1500 or email our office at [email protected].  We look forward to caring for your families in a Christ-centered way! 

Saints Peter and Paul Salesian School & Pre-K Accepting Applications: Our K-8 Salesian school is accepting applications for this year and next. Please email Dr. Lisa Harris at the school at [email protected], or Barbara Simons at the Pre-K at [email protected] to learn more! 

Sponsor a Student! We are receiving more request for financial aid than ever before. The Salesians started by educating the children of the poor and we are not about to stop now—but like Don Bosco before us we need your help! We invite financially able parishioners to help with this ministry. Please call Fr. Tho at 415-421-0809 or Dr. Lisa Harris at 415-421-5219. 
 
Want to go deeper in Salesian Spirituality? Founded by Don Bosco himself, the Salesian Cooperators are an association of Christians living in the world according to the Chrism of Don Bosco. A type of “third order,” the Cooperators also work on keeping the church beautiful, visits to the sick & elderly, and helping with any and all sorts of parish functions. The Cooperators always help when needed. Contact Frank Lavin at 415.310.8551 or [email protected].  
 
 PLANNED GIVING One Charitable Gift, A Legacy of Faith: Consider listing Saints Peter and Paul as beneficiary in your Will (it’s advisable to have one). It preserves the mission and values of the church in its ministry. Call for information: Fr. Tho Bui 415-421-0809.
   
Our Centennial Celebration and Jubilee Year has begun! On November 9-10, 2024 we began the 100 Year Anniversary of Saints Peter and Paul Church.   What a great weekend! The Masses and the Renewal of Wedding Vows were holy and beautiful; both the Saturday and Sunday receptions were packed; the food was great, and the grace of God touched all! Go here for links to photos and videos. 
       
Remember, though, the Jubilee Celebration is for the whole year—see the indulgence granted to us by the Vatican at left! Let us take this year to gratefully reflect on the gifts given to us by God the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit; to honor those who have come before us, and to preserve our faith and our Church for our posterity!   
         
The Apostolic Penitentiary in Rome, charged with the granting of indulgences, has designated Saints Peter and Paul Church in the Archdiocese of San Francisco, California as a Vatican recognized site for Plenary Indulgence and has granted a Plenary Indulgence to the faithful who truly repent and are driven by charity under these certain conditions from November 1, 2024 until November 1, 2025. A Plenary Indulgence may also apply, through the faithful’s own sufferings, to the Souls in Purgatory. 
          
WHAT IS A PLENARY INDULGENCE?   
An indulgence is a remission before God of the temporal punishment for sin the guilt of which is already forgiven, which a properly disposed member of the Christian faithful obtains under certain conditions with the help of the Church which, as the minister of redemption, dispenses and applies authoritatively the treasure of the satisfaction of Christ and the saints. Code of canon Law (can. 992). A plenary indulgence can be gained only once a day. In order to obtain it, the faithful must, in addition to being in a state of grace, have the interior disposition of complete detachment from sin, even venial sin.  You can download a flyer here on how to obtain this wonderful spiritual gift!    
 
Liturgical Calendar 
Sunday               02          The Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Monday              03          Katherine Drexel; Virgin
Tuesday             04          Casimir
Wednesday        05          Ash Wednesday
Thursday           06          Thursday after Ash Wednesday
Friday                 07          Friday after Ash Wednesday, Perpetua & Felicity; Martyrs
Saturday            08          Saturday after Ash Wednesday, John of God; Religious
Sunday               09          The First Sunday of Lent
 
Your gifts of February 22/23:  $3,377.
Goal:                                      $8,670.
Shortfall:                                $5,293.
We are always in shortfall. Fr. Tho asks for your help Please consider donating an amount equal to a breakfast or lunch or movie ticket. Your parish needs & appreciates your support!