Hello friends,

Happy New Year to all of you! Yes, I said Happy New Year since it is the beginning of another liturgical year. The first Sunday of Advent marks the new year of the Church. So we have entered into this time of Advent, and although we might associate the color purple with a time of penance, fasting, and preparation, we are called to joyfully journey toward the feast of Christmas and the fullness of the kingdom of God. The responsorial psalm calls us to “go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” During this time, we are called to pause and attune all of our senses to what really matters: Christ present in our midst and the kingdom of heaven being built here and now. That is why the evangelist Matthew invites us to “Stay awake!” St. Paul echoes those same words of Jesus to “stay awake” in his letter to the Romans. He tells them, “It is the hour now for you to awake from sleep.” Advent is a season for preparation. Amid the physical preparations for Christmas, how would you like to prepare spiritually for the feast of Christ’s nativity?

Hola amigos,
Feliz Año Nuevo a todos ustedes! Sí, dije Feliz Año Nuevo ya que es el comienzo de otro año litúrgico. El primer domingo de Adviento marca el nuevo año de la Iglesia. Así que hemos entrado en este tiempo de Adviento, y aunque podríamos asociar el color púrpura con un tiempo de penitencia, ayuno y preparación, estamos llamados a viajar alegremente hacia la fiesta de la Navidad y la plenitud del reino de Dios. El salmo responsorial nos llama a "ir con alegría al encuentro del Señor". Durante este tiempo, estamos llamados a hacer una pausa y a sintonizar todos nuestros sentidos con lo que realmente importa: Cristo presente en medio de nosotros y el reino de los cielos que se está construyendo aquí y ahora. Es por eso que el evangelista Mateo nos invita a "Permanecer despiertos!" San Pablo se hace eco de las mismas palabras de Jesús de "permanecer despierto" en su carta a los romanos. Les dice: "Ya es la hora de que despierten del sueño". El Adviento es una temporada para la preparación. En medio de los preparativos físicos para la Navidad, cómo les gustaría prepararse espiritualmente para la fiesta del nacimiento de Cristo?

​ Fr. Alex Urena

Due to early bulletin submission, information is not available

Dear Friends,

We begin the month of November celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints followed the next day by the Mass for All Souls. We have a beautiful altar for the dead in our hall commemorating our deceased loved ones. Saint Gertrude the Great (12651306 AD) whose memorial Mass we celebrate November 16th was a Benedictine nun, theologian, and mystic. She had a great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the souls in purgatory. Purgatory is a state of being for those who die in friendship with God but are not fully purified and perfected. They are assured of eternal salvation in heaven however they first undergo purification to obtain the perfection of love and holiness needed to enter heaven. We assist the souls in purgatory with our prayers and especially through the Eucharist by offering Masses for the deceased. Saint Gertrude wrote the following prayer for the souls in purgatory: Eternal Father, I offer you the most precious blood of your divine Son, Jesus Christ, in union with the Masses said throughout the world today, for all the holy souls in purgatory, for sinners everywhere, those in the Universal Church, in my home, and in my family, (and myself).

Estimados Amigos, Comenzamos el mes de noviembre celebrando la solemnidad de Todos los Santos seguido al día siguiente por la Misa por Todas las Almas. Tenemos un hermoso altar para los muertos en nuestra sala conmemorando a nuestros seres queridos fallecidos. Santa Gertrudis la Grande (12651306 d. C.) cuya misa conmemorativa celebramos el 16 de noviembre fue una monja benedictina, teólogiana y mística. Tenía una gran devoción al Sagrado Corazón de Jesús y a las almas en el purgatorio. El Purgatorio es un estado de ser para aquellos que mueren en amistad con Dios pero no son completamente purificados y perfeccionados. Se les asegura la salvación eterna en el cielo, sin embargo, primero se someten a purificación para obtener la perfección del amor y la santidad necesaria para entrar en el cielo. Ayudamos a las almas en el purgatorio con nuestras oraciones y especialmente a través de la Eucaristía ofreciendo misas por los difuntos. Santa Gertrudis escribió la siguiente oración por las almas en el purgatorio: Padre Eterno, te ofrezco la sangre más preciosa de tu Hijo divino, Jesucristo, en unión con las Misas que se han dicho hoy en todo el mundo, para todas las almas santas en el purgatorio, para los pecadores, para los pecadores en todas partes, los de la Iglesia Universal, en mi hogar y en mi familia, (y en mí mismo).

​ Padre Gino

 Hello friends,

I read the first sentence of today’s reading again. It comes from the Book of Wisdom that says: “Indeed, before the Lord, the whole universe is like a grain from a balance, or a drop of morning dew come down upon the earth.” Talk about a mind stretching concept! Talk about getting a bit of help to keep things in perspective! Size yourself up as you listen to those words again: “Indeed, before the Lord, the whole universe (all lands, all seas, all the planets, all people, all of creation) is like a grain from a balance, or a drop of morning dew come down upon earth.” Picture yourself then, “before the Lord.” Pretty small, yes; but not at all insignificant. “For you love all things that are,” the reading goes on to say. Speaking of the Lord, “and (you) loathe nothing that you have made.” It may become easier for you to understand the profound meaning of all this when we come momentarily consider the story of Zacchaeus, that small but by no means insignificant fellow who shows up in today’s Gospel story. But for now, stay fixed, dear friends, in your mind’s eyes, “before the Lord.” Compare yourself, as the Book of Wisdom invites the comparison, with “the whole universe.” See yourself from the perspective of the all powerful, eternal, Triune God. See yourself as God saw you before you or anyone else was even created.

Estimados amigos,

Quiero que escuchen las palabras de la primera lectura del libro de la Sabiduría. “Señor, delante de ti, el mundo entero es como un grano de arena en la balanza, como gota de rocío mañanero, que cae sobre la tierra.” ¿Después de escuchar estas palabras, como nos sentimos? Es bueno escuchar esto y ponerlo en perspectiva. Si el mundo entero es como un grano en una balanza, ¿qué tan grande nos consideramos nosotros delante del Señor? Yo creo que muy pequeños, cierto? Pero esto no quiere decir que no somos importantes ante Dios ni insignificantes. La lectura continúa diciendo: “Porque tú amas todo cuanto existe y no aborreces nada de lo que has hecho.” Esto está también reflejado en la historia de Zaqueo, que siendo un hombre bajo de estatura, sigue siendo grande ante los ojos de Dios ya que la salvación ha  llegado a esa casa.

​Fr. Alex Urena

Dear Friends,

As October comes to a close, a month that the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) have called Respect Life Month, I am reminded of what Archbishop Joseph F. Naumann of Kansas City in Kansas and USCCB Chairman of the Committee on  Pro Life Activities said: “Although we must cherish, protect, and defend human life year round, the Catholic Church in the United States sets aside each October as Respect Life Month.” (1)We cherish, protect, and defend human life year round.  The Archbishop further says, “Jesus asks us to be as leaven in the world, to bring His light to the darkness.  Our daily activities take each of us to places only we can go, to people only we will meet. May we allow Christ to renew and strengthen us, that He may work through us in each moment of every day.”

Estimados parroquianos,

A medida que octubre llega a su fin, un mes que la Conferencia de Obispos Católicos de los Estados Unidos (USCCB) ha llamado Respetar el Mes de la Vida, recuerdo lo que el arzobispo Joseph F. Naumann de Kansas City en Kansas y el Presidente del Comité de Actividades Pro Vida de la USCCB dijeron : "Aunque debemos apreciar, proteger y defender la vida humana durante todo el año, la Iglesia Católica en los Estados Unidos reserva cada octubre como Mes de Respetar la Vida." (1) Apreciamos, protegemos y defendemos la vida humana durante todo el año. El arzobispo dice además: "Jesús nos pide que seamos como levadura en el mundo, para llevar Su luz a las tinieblas. Nuestras actividades  diarias nos llevan a cada uno de nosotros a lugares a  los que solo podemos ir, a las personas que solo nos reuniremos. Que permitamos que Cristo nos renueve  y nos fortalezca, para que trabaje a través de nosotros en cada momento de cada día."

Padre Gino
(1) https://www.respectlife.org/respect- life-month 
(2) https://www.respectlife.org/respect-life-month

Hello friends, 

To start with I want to thank you all who for your participation at the parish Annual Barbecue over the weekend. It was such a wonderful time to come together as a parish. I hope that you all enjoyed it together with your family and friends. This event wouldn’t of been possible without your support and participation. I want to take this time also to thank the barbecue committee for the hard work they put into this event and for their commitment to the parish. I cannot name you all, but all of you that were a part of the event, THANK YOU! On the other hand, I want to share with you all about my experience in Rome and Croatia. I was able to take a group of 22 people in a pilgrimage to different places in these two countries. The first place that we visited was Medjugorje, a small town located in the Herzegovina region of Bosnia and Herzegovina. This is a spiritual place visited by hundreds of people daily. There is the hill where our lady has appeared several times. We had the opportunity to climbed it and pray by the statue of Mary. From there we traveled to Italy where we visited Assisi, Siena, and Rome. Our last day in Rome, we attended the ordination of our seminarian (now deacon) Ivan Torres. It was a beautiful celebration in the basilica of St. Peter where cardinals, bishops, priests and faithful attended the event. It was a moment of joy for us to be part of the ordination of Ivan and other 31 candidates. We came back with many great memories and we hope to continue creating more.

Hola amigos,

​Primeramente, quiero expresar mi gratitud a todos los parroquianos por su participación en nuestra fiesta parroquial. Gracias a todos ustedes que tuvieron la oportunidad de atender y de divertirse con su familiares y amistades. ¡A todos aquellos que nos ayudaron de una manera u otra, GRACIAS! Este evento no seria posible sin su participación y compromiso. También quiero agradecer a al grupo coordinador que puso muchas horas de planeamiento y de trabajo. En breve quiero compartirles un poquito de mi experiencia en Croacia e Italia. Un grupo de 22 personas tuvimos la oportunidad de viajar a diferentes lugares en estos dos países. Visitamos un lugar mariano donde nuestra madre María se ha aparecidos en Medjugorje. De ahí visitamos otros lugares en Italia, como Asís, Siena, Roma, y la ciudad del Vaticano. Todos estos lugares muy históricos y espirituales con una riqueza inmensa. El ultimo día de nuestro viaje, tuvimos el privilegio de participar de la ordenación diaconal de nuestro seminarista Iván Torres. Fue un evento muy especial para el y para todos nosotros. Fr. Alex Urena

Dear Friends,

On October 13, 2019, an event of significance to us as member of the St. Albert the Great Newman Parish will place in Rome. On that day, in St. Peter's Square. Pope Francis will canonize Blessed John Henry Newman a saint. Four other persons, three nuns and a consecrated virgin of the Third Order of St. Francis, will be canonized with him.

Why is this significant to us? Because a large number of Newman Centers (or Newman Societies in England) are named in his honor, just as our parish is. Newman Centers provide pastoral services and ministries to Catholics at non-Catholic universities. He also has a number of colleges and universities named after him.

John Newman was born in London on February 21,1801. Although he was not spectacularly successful in his college studies, he did well in post-college life. He became an Anglican priest, on June 13, 1824. During his Anglican priesthood, he became well known even if controversial, in his teaching and leadership. He left the Anglican Church in 1845, an event that cost him many friendships, including that of his sister who never spoke to him again.

Newman was ordained a Catholic priest in 1847. By this time, he was a well-known author, poet, and supporter of education.  His writings are considered among some of the most important church writings in  recent centuries. He founded several colleges

Dear Friends,

October is Respect Human Life month. In 2018, Pope Francis changed the Church’s teaching on the death penalty. The Catechism of the Catholic Church Second Edition published in 1997 added the teaching of Pope John Paul II from Evangelium Vitae to paragraph 2267. The Catechism still allowed for the death penalty however it said that “the cases in which the execution of the offender is an absolute necessity are very rare, if not practically nonexistent.” Pope Francis after reexamining the teaching has rewritten paragraph 2267. The paragraph reads, “Today, however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes.” The paragraph further states, “…the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person, and she [the Church] works with determination for its abolition worldwide.” You can read paragraph 2267 in its entirety at:
https:// press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/ pubblico/2018/08/02/180802a.html

Fr. Gino

Estimados parroquianos,

Octubre es el mes de respetar la vida humana. En 2018, el Papa Francisco cambió la enseñanza de la Iglesia sobre la pena de muerte. El Catecismo de la Iglesia Católica Segunda Edición publicado en 1997 añadió la enseñanza de Papa Juan Pablo II de Evangelium Vitae al párrafo 2267. El Catecismo todavía permitía la pena de muerte, sin embargo, decía que "los casos en los que la ejecución del delincuente es una necesidad absoluta son muy raros, si no prácticamente inexistentes". El Papa Francisco después de reexaminar la enseñanza ha reescrito el párrafo 2267. El párrafo dice: "Hoy, sin embargo, hay una conciencia cada vez mayor de que la dignidad de la persona no se pierde incluso después de la comisión de crímenes muy graves". El párrafo dice además: "... la pena de muerte es inadmisible porque es un ataque a la inviolabilidad y dignidad de la persona, y ella [la Iglesia] trabaja con determinación para su abolición en todo el mundo". Puede leer el párrafo 2267 en su totalidad en: https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/ pubblico/2018/08/02/180802a.html

Padre Gino

Dear Friends,

"You cannot serve both God and mammon," (Lk 16:13b) Money is not evil in of itself. We all need money to function in our economy and world economies. Many of our responsibilities require money, contributions to the church and people in need is greatly appreciated. Jesus is asking us to examine our relationship with our money.  Money can become competitive with God for our attention. 
Extreme attachment to money gives is absolute value making it an idol. Money and other possessions are for this temporal life and can bring comfort and enjoyment. In time, we must leave them all behind. We are reminded of the words, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return; and the Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away." (Job 1:21)
Father Gino

Estimados Amigos,

"No puedes servir tanto a Dios como al dinero." (Lk 16, 13b) El dinero no es malo en si mismo. Todos necesitamos dinero para funcionar en nuestra economia y en nuestras economias mundiales. Muchas de nuestras responsab ilidades requieren dinero. Las contribuciones a la iglesia y a las personas necesitadas son muy apreciadas. Jesus nos pide que examinemos nuestra relacion con nuestra relacion con nuestro dinero. El dinero puede volverse competitivo con Dios para nuestra atencion.

El apego extemo al dinero le da un valor absolunto por lo que es un idolo. El dinero y otras posesiones son para esta vida temporal y pueden traer comodidad y disfrute. Con el tiempo, debemos dejarlos a todos atras. Se nos recuerdan las palabras: "Desnudo vine del vientre de mi madre, y desnudo volvere; el Senor dio, y el Senor se ha llevado." (Job 1:21)

Hello Friends,

God's forgiveness is this weekend's theme. Our first reading (Exodus 32, 7-11.13-14) takes us back to Moses, about 1300 years before Christ. The  people of Israel had just escaped from Egypt and were going through the desert of Sinai on their way to the  Promised Land. They had already made a covenant with God at Mt. Sinai, and they had  promised they would worship only the God of Israel as their God. When God called Moses back to the  top of Mt. Sinai to speak with him again, the people got into trouble. They fashioned for themselves a  golden calf and worshiped it as their god. This is where our first reading begins. God is angry with his people. Notice, in speaking to Moses, he calls them "your people". Moses intercedes for the people and "convinces God to forgiving. His prayer displays total unselfishness. God, of course, forgives them. In the second reading, we hear St. Paul describe what a sinful person he once was and how God was merciful to him (1 Tim, 1,, 12-17). In today's gospel, which is the entire fifteen chapter of St. Luke, we hear three beautiful parables of God's forgiveness.

Estimados parroquianos,

Las lecturas de este fin de semana nos hablan sobre el perdon, algo tan necesitado en nuestra  sociedad en estos tiempos. La primera lectura que esta en estos tiempos. La primera lectura que esta tomada del libro del Exodo nos lleva alrededor de 1300 anos antes de Cristo. Recordemos que, en ese pasaje, los israelitas acababan de escapar de Egipto y se encontraban en el desierto rumbo a la Tierra Prometida. Este pueblo ya habia hecho una alianza con Dios, pero cuando Dios llama a su lider a que suba la montana para conversar con el, los Israelitas se les olvido esa alianza con Dios. Hicieron una estatua a la cual comenzaron a adorar y reconocer como su dios. Dios se moleso mucho con ellos por este acto de desobediencia hacia el. Pero al final, por intercesion de  Moises, Dios los perdono. Tenemos un Dios de amor, de perdon que nos perdona cuantas veces vengamos arrepentidos a el.

Fr. Alex Urena