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Fr.
Charles
Puthota
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From
the Pastor's
Desktop
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A
Message from
Father Charles
Puthota
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November
3,
2024
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Dear
Parishioners of
St.
Elizabeth,
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All Saints: November
1: We began this
emotion-laden month of
November with the
solemnity of All Saints
(All Hallows), which was
a holy day of
obligation, with Masses
at 8:30am and 6:00pm.
Having observed the
cultural celebration of
the Eve of Hallows as
Halloween, here we
celebrated the holy
feast of all saints,
canonized and not
canonized, known and
unknown. Originally the
feast began when there
were so many martyrs
that there was a
felt-need to honor them.
It then became a way of
honoring all saints, all
holy men and women, who
have reached the
beatific vision of God
and are now safe in the
very heart of God, even
if they are not
officially declared as
saints by the Church. I
would like to think that
some or many of our own
family members have been
privileged to become
saints and have attained
the life of perfection
in heaven; that they
have joined Mary, our
blessed mother, the
angels, and saints; that
they are beholding the
face of God for eternity
with Jesus and the Holy
Spirit. What a blessed
state! What a glorious
life of fulfillment!
This feast invites us to
thank God for all the
marvelous deeds God in
Jesus has done in the
lives of all these
saints. We feel a deep
sense of gratitude and
joy. This feast also
reminds us that we are
all destined to be
saints; that we are all
called to holiness. "Be
perfect as your heavenly
Father is perfect," is
the challenge. Be holy.
Do holy. It is not easy,
though. We are pulled
and pushed by external
and internal forces,
drives, and allurements.
We are tempted and
dazzled by all sorts of
things in the world. To
seek holiness amidst
bewildering things and
choices is not at all
easy. Jesus walks with
us and gives us his
Spirit to lead and guide
us so that we may keep
running the race,
knowing that in all our
endeavors, struggles,
and failures, we are
graced and strengthened
on this pilgrimage of
life.
All Souls:
November 2: We
commemorated all those
who have been called to
God. We think especially
of those in our own
families who have gone
before us. We hold their
memory sacred. We loved
them in life, we
continue to love them in
death. In death, life is
changed, not ended. Love
is stronger than death.
We bring our love,
faith, and prayers to
support them on their
journey of purification
and attainment of
perfection with God. It
has always been a
tradition in the
Catholic faith to visit
graves on this day and
in the whole month of
November dedicated to
the dear departed. So
let's make time for
that. As we stand at
their graves, perhaps
with tears and a deep
sense of grief, let us
know that God will wipe
away all tears and grant
them eternal peace and
fulfillment. It is also
a grace-filled occasion
for us "in this valley
of tears" to think of
life and death.
Awareness of death can
make life more precious
and beautiful. Against
the background of death,
life takes on great
urgency and acute
significance. Because of
death, we have to live
better lives. Because of
death, we have to become
the persons God wants
us to be in this life.
Because of death, we
need to become more
authentic disciples and
apostles of Jesus.
Because of death, love
becomes not only
necessary but also
urgent. Eternal rest
grant unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light
shine upon them. May
they rest in peace!
Amen. May their souls
and the souls of all the
faithful departed
through the mercy of God
rest in peace. Amen.
Elections:
The Bishops of the
United States have
guidelines for
Catholics, especially in
the election cycles,
through a well-balanced
document titled "Forming
Consciences for Faithful
Citizenship." If you
would like to read it in
detail, just google it.
The Bishops encourage us
to apply Catholic social
teaching to major issues
we face in our nation
and the world. They list
these major issues as:
1. Human Life. 2.
Promoting Peace. 3.
Marriage & Family
Life. 4. Religious
Freedom. 5. Health Care.
6. Migration. 7.
Catholic Education. 8.
Promoting Justice and
Countering Violence. 9.
Combatting Unjust
Discrimination. 10. Care
for our Common Home. 11.
Communications, Media,
and Culture. 12. Global
Solidarity. We need to
look at all these major
issues in totality and
search and seek the
guidance of the Holy
Spirit before we elect
our leaders. May our
nation have the leaders
we deserve, the leaders
who are according to the
mind and heart of
Christ, humble and
honest, selfless and
serene, generous and
gentle, always willing
to give of themselves in
service for the common
good. Let us keep our
nation in our
prayers.
Monday, December
9: Feast of the
Immaculate Conception, a
Holy Day of Obligation,
Masses at 8:30am and
6:00pm.
Pope Francis' Latest
Encyclical: Pope
Francis has just
released his fourth
encyclical called
"Dilexit Nos" (He Loved
Us) on the Sacred Heart
of Jesus. His three
other encyclicals are
"Lumen Fidei," "Laudato
Si," and "Fretelli
Tutti." The Holy Father
calls the Church and the
world through the latest
one to the heart of
Christ, the seat of
God's immense love. More
about this encyclical in
this column in the
coming bulletins.
Synod on
Synodality: The
second and final session
of the Synod on
Synodality came to a
close last week. It took
place from October 2
through October 27,
2024. The theme of the
whole synod spread over
three years was: "For a
Synodal Church:
Communion,
Participation, and
Mission."
Gustavo Gutierez,
RIP: One of my
favorite theologians,
the Peruvian Dominican
Father Gustavo Gutierez
passed away last week. I
regularly meditate on
his scripture
reflections for Sunday
readings. He has a
powerful and inspiring
way of looking at the
scriptures from the
perspective of God as
liberator and in favor
of justice, peace,
dignity, and the human
rights, which are God's
universal blessings for
everyone. May Father
Gutierez rest in
peace!
Humor: The
pastor confronted his
tipsy church member:
"Joe, whiskey is your
worst enemy." "But
didn't you tell us last
Sunday to love our
enemies?" Joe replied.
"Sure," the pastor
answered, "but I didn't
say anything about
swallowing them."
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Your
Friend and
Pastor,
Father
Charles
Puthota.
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MASS
SCHEDULE
as of
November 23,
2023
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Saturday:
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..
4:30
p.m.
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...
Sunday:
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..
8:30
a.m. & 10:30
a.m.
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Monday
thru Saturday:
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..
8:30
a.m.
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Holy
Days:
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..
8:30
a.m. & 6:00
p.m.
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Confessions:
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..4:00
p.m. on Saturdays before the 4:30
Vigil Mass
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10:00
a.m. on Sundays before the 10:30
a.m. Mass
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PARISH SACRAMENTAL
CELEBRATIONS
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SACRAMENT
OF
BAPTISM
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SACRAMENT OF CONFIRMATION
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High
School Students
should call the
Religious
Education
Office for more
information.
Adult
confirmation is
available on an
individual
basis.
-.Details
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SACRAMENT
OF THE
ANOINTING OF
THE
SICK
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Call
the Parish
Office in case
of serious
illness and
before surgery
and hospital
care. -
Details
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SACRAMENT
OF
EUCHARIST
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Our
Eucharistic
Ministers are
available to
bring the
Eucharist to
the sick or
homebound.
Contact the
Parish Office.
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Details
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SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
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Saturday
3:30pm to
4:15pm or by
appointment. -
Details
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SACRAMENT
OF
MARRIAGE
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There
is a six month
period of
preparation for
the celebration
of this
Sacrament.
Contact the
Parish Office
to make
arrangements. -
Details
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Faith
Formation
- Cantwell
Hall
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Saturday
9:00am to
11:00am. -
Details
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Parish
Office:
(415)
468-0820
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Benediction
and Our Lady of
Perpetual Help
Novena:
Wednesdays
after the 8:30am
Mass.
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Legion
of Mary
Meeting
5:00pm Monday in the
Church.
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1000
Hail Mary's
Third
Saturday after the
8:30am Mass until
3:30pm.
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Over
50
Group
Thursdays at 12:00pm in
Cantwell Hall.
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Rev.
Charles Puthota, Ph. D.,
Pastor
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Sandy
Mehrwein,
Parish
Secretary
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Patricia
Spiteri,
Pastoral
Coordinator
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Laurrie
Digneo,
Coordinator
of Faith
Formation
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