The
Beacon
•
Newsletter of The Immaculata Parish •
May 7th 2017
Fourth Sunday of Easter
The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want
~ Psalm 23
Confirmation at The Immaculata by Anne Rising
We are most happy to welcome Bishop Emeritus Robert Brom to The Immaculata for our Vigil
Mass this weekend. Bishop Brom will be presiding at Confirmation for fifteen of our high school
youth and sixteen adults.
Confirmation programs throughout the diocese are generally a two-year process, and candidates
must be at least age 15 to be confirmed. Fr. Matt has designed our program which includes four
segments modeled after RCIA: Journey (Inquiry), Formation (Catechumenate); Reflection
(Purification and Enlightenment), and Walking-the-Walk (Mystogogy). Students in Journey are
full of questions about our Catholic faith and discuss those in their classes. Formation includes
more direct teaching on Catholicism. Reflection is meant to take what they have learned and have
that move into their heart. Walking-the-Walk is learning about a social justice issue and
completing a service activity. In the past, we have studied poverty and hunger and our service has been at Fr. Joe’s Village serving dinner.
Journey students have an all-day retreat that begins with morning Mass and takes place on USD’s campus. Reflection students have a
weekend retreat during Lent. It is held in Imperial Beach at St. Charles Retreat Center, a former convent that is a perfect size for our group.
Boys are on one floor and girls on the other. We have group activities such as prayer, workshops, and Mass in the chapel. Workshops
continued on page 2...
The Immaculata • USD Campus 5998 Alcalá Park • San Diego, CA 92110 • (619) 574-5700 • FAX (619) 574-5707 • www.theimmaculata.org
Fourth Sunday in Easter
Immaculata
Staff
Most Reverend Robert W. McElroy
Bishop of San Diego
Reverend
Matthew D. Spahr
Pastor
(619) 574-5700
Janice Corbett
Office Manager
(619) 574-5706
[email protected]
Jean Dolan
Parish Secretary
(619) 574-5700
[email protected]
Matt Dolan
Director of Music
(619) 758-3550
[email protected]
Lisa Becerra
Wedding Director
(619) 574-5704
[email protected]
Rebekka Vieira, SSSA
Director of Adult Faith
Formation
(619) 574-5703
[email protected]
Don McAndrew
Sacristan
(619) 574-5700
[email protected]
For Heaven’s Sake
Rev. Matthew D. Spahr, Pastor
Good Shepherd Sunday
Because the readings in all three cycles employ the image of the shepherd, the Fourth Sunday
of Easter is also known as Good Shepherd Sunday. It gives us an opportunity to reflect on Jesus’
self-identification as “the Good Shepherd,” and on all those who shepherd the Church in His
name today. The failings of some Church leaders, along with the complexity of our modern age,
make it all the more apparent how much we need good, holy leaders in faith. I hope that you
make it a regular part of your prayer to pray for our Holy Father, the bishops, priests and other
pastoral ministers in our Church. We need examples of faith and holiness and good teachers
who can lead us and nourish us on our life’s journey to the Father. In the same way, I hope that
you will remember to pray daily for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. There are
many opinions for the decline in these vocations. Regardless of the reasons that can be offered
for the decline, one thing is certain—we need holy priests and religious to lead and guide us.
Further, God is still calling young men and women to follow Christ in living the evangelical
counsels of poverty, chastity and obedience in service to His people. Pray that more young men
and women will hear that call through the cacophony of other voices in our modern culture and
have the courage and generosity to respond. Finally, if you know a young man or woman who
seems to display the gifts to be a priest or religious, tell them so. You would be amazed how
many vocation stories include the fact that somebody, at some point in a young person’s life,
planted the seed of vocation in them by simply telling them they would make a good priest or
religious sister.
Tuition Assistance
The Immaculata is committed to making Catholic education more affordable for parishioners
who are in need of financial assistance. Parishioners who have children in Catholic schools or
are considering Catholic education may apply for tuition assistance from a fund established by
our Pastoral and Finance Councils. If your family would like to be considered for tuition assistance for the upcoming academic year please fill out an application. Applications are available
in the vestibule of the church or by calling the parish office.
Mother’s Day Novena of Masses
Mass cards and envelopes are available at the entrances to the church for those wishing to enroll
their mothers (living or deceased) in our annual Mother’s Day Novena of Masses. The novena
begins on Mother’s Day and extends for nine days. In the midst of the floral bouquets there’s
nothing like a spiritual bouquet to console a mother’s heart.
Confirmation at The Immaculata ... continued from page 1
Leslie Gereghty
Organist &
Wedding Music Director
(619) 574-5705
[email protected]
Anne Rising
Director of Catechetical
Ministry
(619) 574-5702
[email protected]
OFFICE HOURS:
Monday - Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
(Closed 12-1 For Lunch)
Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
2
usually involve small and/or large group discussion with each chaperone facilitating. A favorite
seems to be the Agree or Disagree activity where we have some lively conversation about various
issues. Another favorite is going to Coronado beach to play and relax for a couple hours ending
with a talk on prayer and praying the rosary on the beach. Saturday is a very full day and Fr. Matt
joins us for dinner, a penance service with individual Reconciliation, Mass and Adoration.
Retreatants are invited to stand around the altar for the Consecration and that is very special for
all. By the time Sunday afternoon comes and it is time to go home, our students are all happy
campers who are glad they came, and the class has bonded in a most beautiful way.
All Confirmation students are required to attend Youth Day at the Los Angeles Religious
Education Congress. Fr. Matt accompanies us during the day and we hear the best youth speakers
in the Nation and attend Mass with the Archbishop presiding and Fr. Matt and a quite a number
of priests concelebrating.
The Beacon - Newsletter of The Immaculata Church
Fourth Sunday in Easter
Religious Education Corner
by Ms. Anne Rising, Director of Catechetical Ministry
Confirmation
We are most happy to welcome Most Reverend Robert Brom, Bishop Emeritus of San Diego, to
our parish for the Saturday Vigil Mass to confirm fifteen of our high school students and sixteen
adults. Congratulations to our newly confirmed!
First Communions
We are doing something a little different this year with First Communions by having small groups
of children receive their First Holy Communion at seven different Masses during the Easter Season.
Today we welcome six more children to the Lord’s Table for the first time: Andrew Brown,
Melinda Dagan, Quinn Hoang, Leonardo Campos Ruiz, Katherine Schneider, and Melody Wood.
School of Religion
Our school of religion has only two more classes after today for the remainder of this academic year.
There is no class on May 14, Mother’s Day. However, there is a May Crowning at the 11:00 a.m.
Mass that day. Our last class is on May 21 and includes a closing year prayer service in Founders
Hall at 9:30 a.m. where children will demonstrate something they have learned throughout the year.
Parents are invited and encouraged to attend. Children should report to their classrooms that day and
will be dismissed from their classrooms. Registrations for next year will begin in August.
Catholic Culture
Saint Damien Joseph de Veuster is remembered by the Church on May 10. He is the saint who volunteered to live with and care for the lepers on the Hawaiian Island of Molokai. He greatly
improved their living conditions while also nourishing their souls as a priest. Saint Damien was
born in 1840 in Belgium. He was a priest in the Congregation of the Fathers of the Most Sacred
Hearts of Jesus and Mary. He contracted leprosy in 1889 and died from the disease in Molokai.
May 13 is the 100th anniversary of the appearance of the Blessed Mother at Fatima. She appeared
to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal between May 13 and October 13, 2017. In these
appearances, Mary referred to herself as Our Lady of the Rosary and encouraged conversion of
hearts and daily recitation of the rosary.
Adult Faith Formation
Mission Statement
of
The Immaculata
Inspired and strengthened by the
Sacraments, Scripture, and Liturgy,
we are a vibrant, diverse
Roman Catholic community
called to serve as faithful disciples
of Christ in our lives and ministries.
With our Blessed Mother to
guide us, we strive to be a beacon
of faith and a spiritual home to all
who seek God.
MASSES
Weekdays:
Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m.
Saturdays:
8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. (Vigil)
Sundays:
9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
HOLY DAYS: Please check our
website www.theimmaculata.org
Eucharistic
Adoration
Wednesdays 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
by Ms. Rebekka Vieira, SSSA, Director of Adult Faith Formation
After Holy Thursday our Candidates and Catechumens had their first experience of Good Friday in
its full breath and scope. I wanted to share with you how this special Holy Week service impacted
those preparing to be received fully into our faith community.
My experience of the Good Friday service was very sorrowful yet extremely significant. It was the
day before the Easter Vigil when we would become one with the Church, and with all the anticipation
of that day, it was incredibly troubling to realize what must
come first - the Passion of our Lord. His sacrifice for us, the
sacrifice we take part in every Mass, was absolutely
overwhelming to me. As Fr. Matt so beautifully explained,
the isolation, abandonment, rejection and humiliation Christ
experienced to make us children of God is what makes
Good Friday so meaningful as it perfectly expresses the
love God has for each one of us. And to end the evening by
kissing the cross, the instrument in which Jesus expressed
his undying love and mercy for us, is one of the most stunning ways to show our devotion. Oh how Christ suffered,
that we may have eternal life with Him. ~Rachel Gilmore
The Beacon - Newsletter of The Immaculata Church
SACRAMENTS
Baptisms
Contact Anne Rising
(619) 574-5702
Weddings
Contact Lisa Becerra
(619) 574-5704
[email protected]
Reconciliation
Saturday 3:30 p.m. to 4:15 p.m.
(Also by appointment)
Anointing of the Sick
Call the parish office
(619) 574-5700
3
Fourth Sunday in Easter
Ministries and Programs
Mass Readings
and Intentions
Children’s Liturgy of the Word
by Anne Rising
Sunday, May 7th
First Reading
All peoples called by God will receive the gift
of the Spirit if they repent and are baptized.
Acts 2:14a, 36-41
Psalm
The Lord is my shepherd;
there is nothing I shall want.
Psalm 23
Second Reading
Once we were like straying sheep;
but now we have been returned to the shepherd,
our guardian.
1 Peter 2:20b-25
Gospel
The shepherd leads the sheep out into pastures
of abundant life.
John 10:1-10
Intention: 9:00 a.m. For all Parishioners
Intention: 11:00 a.m. For all parishioners
You may have noticed that we have not had CLOW for the past few weeks. The
reason is that we simply need more adults to serve as leaders. Our program has
grown so much that we now need four adults to be with the children for CLOW.
That means we need at least 16 team members who will be scheduled once a
month, and a couple more to serve as subs when needed.
CLOW leaders are required to have a
background check and safe environment training. There are published
materials that guide the team members
to lead CLOW. If you enjoy working
with children and are interested in joining our CLOW team, please call me at
(619) 574-5702.
Monday, May 8th
Acts 11:1-18; Psalm 42:2-3; 43:3, 4;
John 10:11-18
Intention: 8:00 a.m. +Frank Ortega
Tuesday, May 9th
Acts 11:19-26; Psalm 87:1b-7; John 10:22-30
Intention: 8:00 a.m. +Lynn Sharp
Wednesday, May 10th
Acts 12:24 — 13:5a; Psalm 67:2-3, 5, 6, 8;
John 12:44-50
Intention: 8:00 a.m. +Timothy White
Thursday, May 11th
Acts 13:13-25; Psalm 89:2-3, 21-22, 25, 27;
John 13:16-20
Intention: 8:00 a.m. +Mrs. Betty Lou Brooke
Friday, May 12th
Acts 13:26-33; Psalm 2:6-11; John 14:1-6
Intention: 8:00 a.m. +Judith Misage
Saturday, May 13th
Acts 13:44-52; Psalm 98:1-4; John 14:7-14
Intention:8:00 a.m.+William Curtis
Intention 4:30 p.m. +Shoula Shamoun
Sunday, May 14th
Acts 6:1-7; Psalm 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19;
1 Peter 2:4-9; John 14:1-12
9:00 a.m. For all Parishioners
11:00 a.m. For all Parishioners
4
Children’s Liturgy of the Word takes place during
the 11:00 a.m. Mass when children are dismissed
after the opening prayer to adjourn to another
location to hear the readings from a Children’s
Lectionary, prayer, and a short reflection on the
readings. During the academic year CLOW meets
in Maher Hall Room 205 – the building across the
east lawn from The Immaculata.
During the summer, we usually meet in Founders
Hall Faculty Lounge. The children return to Mass
during the Offertory.
For the list of all of The Immaculata Parish Ministries and Groups, please
visit our website at www.TheImmaculata.org.
You can stay in touch with The Immaculata via text, email, and or automated phone
calls. Subscribing is easy, you can either text "Immaculata" to 84576 or visit
https://new.flocknote.com/immaculata. Like and follow The Immaculata to stay up
to date on Facebook @USDImmaculata.
The Beacon - Newsletter of The Immaculata Church
Fourth Sunday in Easter
Immaculata Announcements
Mother’s Day Novenas
Mother’s Day cards will be available in at the entrances of the church. Please
return the offertory envelop in the collection, or to the office to enroll a mother
in our Mother’s Day Novena starting on Mother’s Day, May 14th.
Save the date!
The Parish Fellowship Committee will be hosting a Pentecost Celebration that
will include a TALENT SHOW, SOLEMN VESPERS & RECEPTION on
Sunday, June 4, from 3:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. If you are interested in sharing your
talent, please contact Krysteena by call/text at (619) 851-5680, or email
[email protected]. There will be limited number of slots per talent category
(i.e. singing, dancing, comedy, etc.), so please specify what your act will be.
All ages welcome!
Courtesy Announcements
Become a Providence Associate
Looking for spiritual renewal? A sense of mission? An intentional community?
The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods, Indiana, invite you to
become a Providence Associate. Applications are being accepted until May
31st. Contact Debbie Dillow at (317) 250-3294 or email [email protected]
to request an application. To learn more please visit ProvidenceAssociates.org.
CCSA Volunteer Need
Our parish is so generous in donations to The Community Christian Service
Agency (CCSA) and they are now in desperate need of volunteers at
their”locations in Pacific Beach and in Clairemont. They need volunteers
during the week who could come in 3 hours a week either during the morning
or the afternoon for various jobs and tasks ranging from working at their font
desk, to sorting clothing or other donated items. Please call (858) 274-2273
and ask for Connie to find out how you can lend a helping hand.
Stewardship of Treasure
The Israelites brought, in great quantities, the best of their
grain, wine, oil and honey, and all the produce of the fields,
they gave a generous tithe of everything. ~ 2 Chronicles 31:5
Week of April 30th 2017
Envelope: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$8,463.25
Online Giving: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$5,142.50
$2,671.50
Plate:
Total: . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .$16,277.25
Thank you for your generosity!
Diocesan
News & Events
Pope Appoints New Auxiliary Bishop
Pope Francis appointed Rev. John Dolan to be
the Auxillary Bishop for our Diocese on April
19th. The episcopal ordination of Bishop - elect
Dolan will take place on Thursday, June 8th at
2:00 p.m. at Saint Therese of Carmel Church in
Del Mar.
Marriage Help!
Retrouvaille offers hope: hope that it is not too
late, hope of a different and better marriage.
Retrouvaille helps couples to show each other
mercy through the opportunities it provides to
listen, to forgive, to be reconciled. For more
information about an upcoming Retrouvaille
Weekend program for couples, contact the
registration team (951) 259-9474 or visit the
website: helpourmarriage.org
Catholic Relief Services Helping Peru
Heavy rains and flooding have caused massive
devastation across large parts of the country,
killing 90 people and affecting another 863,000
including 285,000 children. Nearly 30,000
homes have been destroyed or collapsed.
Catholic Relief Services is accepting donations
to assist the people of Peru during this natural
disaster in which a state of emergency has been
called into effect in 11 departments. To donate
please call 877-HELP-CRS.
Pro Life Mondays
Every Monday is designated to Pro-Life
Monday at St. John the Evangelist Church, 1001
Encinitas Blvd, Encinitas. The 8:00 a.m. Mass
will be followed by a Rosary for Life.
SDYAM Presents: Fr. Kevin McGoldrick
Father Kevin McColdrick’s is coming to San
Diego during his Square Peg Round Hole Tour.
Fr. McGoldrick will be playing at St. Joseph’s
Cathedral on May 19th from 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Visit KevinMcGoldrickMusic.com for more
information.
Cast off Darkness and Put on the Amor of
Light Retreat
The San Diego Young Adult Ministry invites
you to attend the next Young Adult Men’s
Retreat in Pine Valley from June 9th-11th. Scott
Veeman will be the guest speaker, and worship
will be led by Matt Franklin. For more
information and to register visit YAMSD.org
The Beacon - Newsletter of The Immaculata Church
5
Fourth Sunday in Easter
A Bit of Church History The Second Council of Lyons
Two years after being elected Pope, on May 7th in 1273, Pope
Gregory X convened a Church Council in Lyons to deal with very
serious issues affecting the Church. Hundreds of bishops and
cardinals and other clergymen gathered in Lyons from all over
Europe to be part of the council. A month after meetings had begun,
representatives from Greek (Orthodox) churches also appeared to
take part. Gregory X wanted the council to understand the need to
retake Jerusalem and much of the Middle East from followers of
Islam. He stated that “we must march to the rescue of the Holy
Sepulcher...” He also called for the reunion with the Greek Orthodox
church and a reform of church morals.
The Greek Church representatives accepted many of the Roman
churches teachings such as the Popeʼs claim to head the church, the
seven sacraments , and the doctrine of purgatory, but upon return to
Greece the representatives faced great opposition and the Orthodox laity and clergy rejected the agreement. Pope Gregory X had
prepared for the union by sending in 1273 an embassy to Constantinople to Michael Palaeologus, and by inducing Charles, King of
Sicily, and Philip, Latin Emperor of Constantinople, to moderate their political ambitions. It wasn’t until 24th June, 1274, that
representatives of Palaeologus, Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople, Theophanes, Bishop of Nicæa, Georgius Acropolita, senator
and great logothete, Nicholas Panaretus, president of the ward-robe, Berrhoeota, chief interpreter, and Georgius Zinuchi all arrived at
the council. They carried a letter from Palaeologus to the council that had been written in the name of fifty archbishops and five
hundred bishops or synods.
It wasn’t until the 6th of July that Georgius Acropolita and the other ambassadors of the Greek Orthodox
church promised fidelity to the Latin Church, and promised the protection of the emperor to the Christians
of the Holy Land. Efforts were made, however, to throw doubt on this as some concluded that Georgius
Acropolita had not been expressly authorized to promise the fidelity of the Greek Orthodox church to the
Latin Church by the emperor.
Theophanes Bishop of Nicaea
The Council of Lyons dealt also with the reform of the Church. Pope Gregory X addressed questions to
the bishops. From this the Friars Preachers drafted new constitutions. Several Bishops were deposed for
unworthiness. The orders of both St. Francis and St. Cominic were warmly approved the two orders of St.
Dominic and St. Francis. The consolidation of religious military orders into one order was abandoned.
Pope Gregory X, also wanted to avoid a repetition of the too lengthy vacancies of the papal see, and so
caused it to be decided that the cardinals should not leave the
conclave until the new pope had been elected. This constitution
which inflicted certain material privations on the cardinals if the
election was too long delayed, was suspended in 1276 by Adrian V,
and a few months later revoked by John XXI, but was re-established
later in many of its articles, and is even yet the basis of legislation on
the conclaves.
Lastly the Council of Lyons dealt with the vacancy of the imperial throne. PopeGregory X
removed James I of Aragon and on the 6th of June Rudolph I was proclaimed King of the Romans
and future emperor. During this council, two of the greatest doctors of the church in the Middle
Ages. died. St. Thomas Aquinas who had been summoned by the pope, died at Frosinone on the
7th of March, 1274 while on his way to Lyons. St. Bonaventure, after important interviews at the
Council with the Greek ambassadors, died on the 15th of July, at Lyons, and was praised by Peter
of Tarentaise, the future Innocent V, in a touching funeral sermon.
As one can clearly see, the church throughout its history has been subject to many disputes and
problems but through it all, the Church endures due to the protection and direction of the Holy
Spirit.
6
The Beacon - Newsletter of The Immaculata Church
Germaus Patriarch of Constantinople
Fourth Sunday in Easter
The Back Page
Keep In
Your Prayers
Confirmation Prayer
Spirit of God, grant me:
The gift of wisdom
To see the world through your eyes,
The gift of counsel
To make difficult decisions,
The gifts of knowledge and understanding
To use my mind to know you and to love you,
The gift of fortitude
To have the courage to live in the faith
Despite the difficulties and disappointments,
The gift of piety
To be able to express my special love
And commitment to you,
And the right kind of awesome fear
That makes me pause to wonder and revere
God’s Love.
Amen
Amen, I say to you, if two of
you agree on earth about anything
for which they are to pray,
it shall be granted to them
by my heavenly father.
Matthew 18:19
Healing
Phillip Burnett
Kate McAdams
Ramon Castro
Liz Miramontes
Alma Church
Ruby Molina
Bill Di Zinno
James Morey
Christine Dolan
Kimberly Morey
Larry Downey
Ray Musico
Mary Fletcher
Marian Oddo
Jack Gaffney
Emilio Parra
Rudy Guerrero
Neil Sampson
Wilma Hieb
Chris Sharpe
Thaddeus Hofman
Jack Shoemaker
April Lane
Bernadette Strocco
Mandy Lopez
Peg Trivison
Riley Manahan
Robert Vitil
Deployed Military
Lt. Col. Sean P. Carroll, USMC
Cpl. Robert Acuna
ENS Christian Capistrano
2nd Lt. Chad Grasmuck
Major David Yorck USMC
Upcoming Events
Pentecost Celebration
June 4th 3:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Immaculata Family Camp
July 14th-16th at Whispering Winds
Capt. Peter Yorck Ranger
Newly Weds
Luther & Maechelle Villanueva
Marcus & Maria Robas
Kevin & Leslie Bergstrom
Grantly & Jorene Ulloa
Alex & Sheila Valdez
Augustino & Tram Pham
Michael & Chastidy Kahn
Jeremy & Jenna Stromsoe
The Beacon - Newsletter of The Immaculata Church