2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 3: 14-21. The first reading recounts the failure of God’s people to listen to his prophets and repent. Their wickedness results in their ruin and exile to Babylon. In the second reading, Paul tells the Ephesians they are saved by grace through faith, which is a gift from God. In the Gospel, Jesus tells Nicodemus that God sent his Son into the world, not to condemn it but to save it.
Domenica 4A Di Quaresima
È urgente la conversione che si attua su una via ben definite: perdere la propria vita, per ritrovarla; rinunciare a se stessi per aprirsi al bene di Dio; dire di no al peccato, voce dell’egoismo, per godere la vita della grazia fonte di gioia e di serenità.
四旬期第四主日(封齋期第四主日)
本主日的讀經一叙述以色列人一而再,再而三地犯罪, 甚至連首長和司祭也對天主不忠,他們的罪惡到了無法救治的地步。時至今日,歷史仍在重演,人類越是任由情慾支配,便越多悲劇發生,離天主越遠。試看每天新聞,兇殺、戰爭、饑饉、欺壓、分裂、無日無之。弄得整個世界一團糟,無論對天主,對自己或對別人,都不能協調。人好像失去理智。
「但天主慈悲為懷,由于祂愛我們的大愛,即使我們因罪惡而死了,祂仍然使我們與基督重生……」(弗2:4)天主聖父怎樣使我們重生呢?祂派遣祂的聖子把真光帶到世界,這真光照耀正途,信祂的人跟着它行事做人,不會失足跌倒。人與人之間和諧,也與天主和諧。
封齋期是一段啟迪、潔淨心靈的時期,今天封齋期已過了一半,讓我們祈求基督,以祂的真光照射到我們心靈的每一個角落, 使我們看到自己在祈禱,守齋、行善各方面是不是按照天主的教導而行事,是不是履行真理,我們的行為是不是在天主內完成的」;我們有沒有做到在領洗時對天主的承諾。
願我們在復活節能歡欣喜樂地迎接基督的真光,讓祂長住在我們的心靈裏。
From the Pastor’s Desk
Saint WHO?
Saints who Battled the Devil
Blessed Giuseppe Puglisi; Martyr +1993
Feast: October 21
“We must not be silent.” The son of a shoemaker and a dressmaker, Giuseppe, “Pino” Puglisi was born in Palermo, Italy, in 1937, on the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows. He grew up in a rough neighborhood, and entered seminary at sixteen. As a priest, he would help fight the culture of crime.
Ten years after his ordination, Father Pino, as he became known, was assigned to the tiny town of Godrano, where gang violence set to work to bring reconciliation. He went to his parishioners’ homes and read the Gospel with them. He organized community gatherings. And he helped the mother of a murdered boy extend forgiveness to the killers’ family. During his eight years there, the village was transformed.
In 1990, Father Pino was assigned to a parish in his old neighborhood, rife with Mafia activity. He publicly opposed the mobsters and encouraged his flock to do so as well. “And what if somebody did something?” he often said. He refused donations from mafiosi, and took away their places of honor in religious processions. Gunmen arrived on his fifty-sixth birthday. “I’ve been expecting you.” said Father Pino. He was beatified in 2013.
Heavenly Father, help your faithful ao courageously reject Satan, all his works,
and all his empty promises.
Fr. Al Mengon, SDB, Parochial Vicar
Taken from the Magnificat
Mass Intentions For The Week
Sunday March 10, 2024
8:45 Luigi Marciano & Giuliana Marciano + – Giovanni Sebastiano +
10:15 Healing for Jackie Law
12:00 Anniversary of the Death of Fr. Jerry Bonjean, SDB +
5:00 Victoria Bugayong (Birthday) + & Jennifer Bugayong
Monday March 11, 2024
7:00 Joseph Leo Torre & Family +
9:00 Lorraine De Nicolai + – Healing Michelle Torre
Tuesday March 12, 2024
7:00 Virginia Sanguinetti +
9:00 Edward Sabini + – Lore Rossi +
Wednesday March 13, 2024
7:00 In Memory of the Ettorina Cardella Family +
9:00 Louis, Eugenia, & Raymond Raggio +
Thursday March 14, 2024
7:00 Birthday of Giuseppe D’Ascoli +
9:00 Anniversary of the Death of Lucy Pang Chan +
Friday March 15, 2024
7:00 In Memory of the Ettorina Cardella Family +
9:00 The Sanguinetti Family +
Saturday March 16, 2024
7:30 Henry Ravetto +
9:00 Francesco Passanisi & Albert Joseph Romeo +
5:00 The Edward & Eileen Ziomek & Myrtle Lane Families +
Baptisms
Mercy Kiu Krause – Milan Arancibia
Marriages
Frank Evelino & Trang Do
John Gianuzzi & Amanda Jordan
Particular Items
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 we have the Anointing following the 7:00 AM Mass.
St. Joseph’s Table: On March 13, beginning at 6:00 PM, our Madonna Addolorata Society will host the St. Joseph’s Table. Open bar, traditional St. Joseph's Meal Tickets are $40 for adults, $10 for children, no charge for children under 10. Please make checks payable to Madonna Addolorata and mail to: Marie Lavin, 80 Baypoint Dr., San Rafael, CA 94901.
Stations of the Cross and Soup Supper: Every Friday of Lent at 6:00 PM we will have the Stations of the Cross followed by Soup Supper in the Rectory or cafeteria. Stations will be hosted by: March 15: Young Adults; March 22: Salesian Boys’ and Girls’ Club.
School Spring Gala! It’s right around the corner! Mark your calendars for March 23 at 6:30PM at the San Francisco Italian Athletic Club for the Glam Pajama Jam—that’s the theme for this year’s school Spring Gala. For tickets and sponsorship opportunities visit www.events.sspeterpaulsf.org/spring-gala
MARK YOUR CALENDARS! Lenten Penance Service: Join us Saturday, March 23, at 3:30 PM for our annual Lenten Penance Service. Confessions will be head in English, Italian, Cantonese, Vietnamese, and Spanish.
Lenten Disciplines: Abstinence: Everyone 14 years and older is bound to abstain from meat on Ash Wednesday, all the Fridays of Lent, and Good Friday. If in doubt concerning Fast or Abstinence, a priest should be consulted. In the spirit of penance, the faithful should not lightly excuse themselves from this obligation. Mass attendance: During Lent, the Church encourages attendance at daily Mass and reception of the Eucharist. Almsgiving: During Lent, the Church encourages generosity to local, national, and worldwide programs of sharing. Also, consider joining us at the morning Rosary, prayed every weekday following the 7:00 AM Mass.
Sacred Triduum Schedule
Holy Thursday, March 28
Morning Prayer 8:00AM Mass of the Lord’s Supper 7:30PM.
Church Open until 10:00 PM for Adoration.
Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday), March 29
Morning Prayer 8:00 AM
Stations of the Cross in Italian at 12:00 PM, Stations in English at 1:00 PM.
The Liturgy of the Passion in English at 2:00 PM
The Passion in Cantonese at 6:00 PM.
Holy Saturday, March 30
Morning Prayer at 8:00 AM w Solemn Easter Vigil 8:00 PM.
Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord, March 31
Mass in English at 7:30 & 8:45 AM
Cantonese/English at 10:15 AM w Italian/English at 12:00 PM NO 5:00 PM Mass.
“If Jesus' entire mission in history is an eloquent sign of God's love, his death, in which God's redeeming tenderness is fully expressed, is quite uniquely so. Always, but particularly in this Lenten Season, our meditation must be centered on the Cross. In it we contemplate the glory of the Lord that shines out in the martyred body of Jesus.
God's greatness, his being love, becomes visible precisely in this total gift of himself. It is the glory of the Crucified One that every Christian is called to understand, live and bear witness to with his life.
The Cross - the giving of himself on the part of the Son of God - is the definitive ‘sign’ par excellence given to us so that we might understand the truth about man and the truth about God: we have all been created and redeemed by a God who sacrificed his only Son out of love.
This is why the Crucifixion, as I wrote in the Encyclical Deus Caritas Est, “is the culmination of that turning of God against himself in which he gives himself in order to raise man up and save him. This is love in its most radical form’” –Pope Benedict XVI, Homily for the Fourth Sunday of Lent.
玫瑰經 Chinese Apostolate First Sunday Rosary: The Apostolate meets every first Sunday of the month following the 10:15 AM Mass, to pray the Rosary in the Don Bosco Room.
End abortion with 40 Days for Life! Join us in peacefully praying for the end to abortion in San Francisco! The 40 Days for Life campaign runs from February 14 to March 24 at 1522 Bush Street daily throughout Lent. You may sign up for vigil hours on the website: 40daysforlife.com/sanfrancisco. For more information, please email us at [email protected] or leave a message at 408-840-DAYS (3297)
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! Are you able to help a student receive a Catholic education? 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 Dr. Lisa Harris at 421-5219 or Fr. Tho Bui at 421-0809.
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!
“Bella is an answer to my prayers to bring an authentically Catholic woman-centered healthcare clinic to our people in the Archdiocese of San Francisco. I invite your collaboration and support !”– Archbishop Cordileone. Support Bella’s mission at bellaprimarycare.org
Archdiocesan Annual Appeal: We have begun the 2024 Archdiocesan Appeal To donate or watch a good video about the 2024 appeal, and what it supports, go to salesiansspp.org/donations. Please remember this is a shared obligation: last year only 78 families/parishioners (out of the whole parish) gave. It would be great if EVERY parishioner contributed, no matter the amount. If you can, join the 1% club! Give $688! But all amounts are deeply appreciated.
Liturgical Calendar
Sunday 10 Fourth (Laetare) Sunday of Lent
Monday 11 Lenten Weekday
Tuesday 12 Lenten Weekday
Wednesday 13 Lenten Weekday
Thursday 14 Lenten Weekday
Friday 15 Lenten Weekday
Saturday 16 Lenten Weekday
Sunday 17 Fifth Sunday of Lent
Your gifts of March 2/3: $3,303.
Weekly goal: $8,670.
Shortfall: $5,367.
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. Thank you! Your parish appreciates your continued support!