Thursday, April 26, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Celebration of Feast of Martyrs Sebastian and George
https://picasaweb.google.com/116328074043587678089/FeastOfStGeorgeAndStSebastian
Click on the above link or on the picture below to view the album.
Click on the above link or on the picture below to view the album.
The feast of Martyrs Sebastian and George were celebrated at St. Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Church on April 22nd with devotion. It was an occasion for the parishioners to become aware of their own special call and choice by God as Christians. Fr. Kuriakose Vadana officiated the liturgical celebrations.
Eleven of the specially chosen twelve apostles responded to their call positively. One of them became a traitor and destroyed himself. Millions of martyrs and saints were faithful to their call. We are also called to be faithful to who we are.
SAINT SEBASTIAN
St. Sebastian was born at Narbonne, Gaul. He became a soldier in the Roman army in Rome in about 283, and encouraged Marcellian and Marcus, under sentence of death, to remain firm in their faith. Sebastian made numerous converts: among them were the master of the rolls, Nicostratus, who was in charge of prisoners and his wife, Zoe, a deaf mute whom he cured; the jailer Claudius; Chromatius, Prefect of Rome, whom he cured of gout; and Chromatius' son, Tiburtius. Chromatius set the prisoners free, freed his slaves, and resigned as prefect.
Sebastian was named captain in the praetorian guards by Emperor Diocletian, and he continued in the same position during Emperor Maximian. Neither knew that Sebastian was a Christian. When it was discovered during Maximian's persecution of the Christians that Sebastian was indeed a Christian, he was ordered to be executed. He was shot with arrows and left for dead, but when the widow of St. Castulus went to recover his body, she found he was still alive and nursed him back to health. Soon after, Sebastian intercepted the Emperor, denounced him for his cruelty to Christians, and was beaten to death on the Emperor's orders.
SAINT GEORGE
St. George was a soldier in the army of the Roman Emperor Diocletian, and he was one of the Emperor's favorite soldiers. Diocletian was a bitter enemy to the Christians. He ordered every Christian to be put to death. George was a brave Christian, a real soldier of Christ. Without fear, he went to the Emperor and sternly scolded him for being so cruel. Then he gave up his position in the Roman army. He arrested and was tortured in many terrible ways and finally beheaded.
So boldly daring and so cheerful was St. George in declaring his Faith and in dying for it that Christians felt courage when they heard about it. Many songs and poems were written about this martyr. Pictures of St. George usually show him killing a dragon to rescue a beautiful lady. The dragon stands for wickedness. We all have some "dragon" to conquer. It might be pride, or anger, or laziness, or greediness, or something else. Let us make sure to be victorious against these "dragons", with God's help.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Youth & Teen Program
Registration Form
You-Teen Program
May 5-6, 2012 (Saturday: 10
am - 5 pm; Sunday: 9.30 am - 5 pm
St. Alphonsa Syro-Malabar Church Los Angeles
607 4th Street, San Fernando, CA 91340
AGE GROUP: Thirteen
>>Twenty (Nobody below 13 will be admitted)
REGISTRATION: Fees -
$50.
Maximum number of
attendees: 30.
Food will be served.
First Name
………………………………………………………..
Last Name
………………………………………………………..
Date of
Birth ………………………………………………………..
Parents
………………………………………………………..
Address
………………………………………………………..
Phone
number to be contacted in case of emergency …………………….
Your
Parish/Mission ………………………………………………………..
Parent’s
Consent
I
……………………….……………………………………………………, father/mother of…………………..………………………………………………
give wholehearted consent to his/her attending
the program.
I will arrange transportation to him/her.
Signature
Date
Friday, April 20, 2012
Field Trip of CCD Children This Weekend
Details of CCD field trip (Grade 1 and above) to all parents.
Date: Saturday, 04/21/2012
Address: San Fernando Mission, 15101 San Fernando Mission Blvd, Mission Hills, CA 91345.
Drop off Time: 10:00 am
Pick up time: 2:30 pm
Regards
CCD Teachers
This WeekendApril 21, Saturday
10 am: Holy Qurbana, Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help
April 22, Third Sunday of Resurrection
9.30 am: CCD
10.30 am: Holy Qurbana, Ladeenju, Celebration of the Feast of Martyrs George and Sebastian, Parish Council
Readings (April 22)
Isiah 56:1-7
Ephesians 1:3-14
John 14:1-14
Date: Saturday, 04/21/2012
Address: San Fernando Mission, 15101 San Fernando Mission Blvd, Mission Hills, CA 91345.
Drop off Time: 10:00 am
Pick up time: 2:30 pm
Regards
CCD Teachers
This WeekendApril 21, Saturday
10 am: Holy Qurbana, Novena to Our Mother of Perpetual Help
April 22, Third Sunday of Resurrection
9.30 am: CCD
10.30 am: Holy Qurbana, Ladeenju, Celebration of the Feast of Martyrs George and Sebastian, Parish Council
Readings (April 22)
Isiah 56:1-7
Ephesians 1:3-14
John 14:1-14
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
April 15, 2012
Today’s Gospel (John 20:19-29)
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, "!” Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
"My Lord and my God!"
When Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God!", he was affirming the Divine nature of the Lord Jesus. For while the word "Lord" implied Jesus as "Master" and "Teacher," the word "God" implied Yahweh. In the person of Jesus, Thomas perceived the human and Divine natures.
Today's reading from the Gospel of John concludes by telling us that Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (Jn. 20:29) These powerful words of Jesus were not meant for the little group that was present in the house. It was a blessing that was intended to surpass the days of the first disciples. It was addressed to all Christians of all time, including the faithful of today, including you and me.
Thomas, the “doubting apostle” makes the great profession of faith, “My Lord and my God.” Here Thomas utters the greatest confession of belief in the Lord who rose from the dead. This declaration by the “doubting apostle” in today’s gospel is very significant for two reasons. (1) It is the foundation of our Christian faith. Our faith is based on the divinity of Jesus as proved by his miracles, especially by the supreme miracle of his resurrection from the dead. Thomas’ profession of faith is the strongest evidence we have of the resurrection of Jesus. (2) Thomas’ faith culminated in his self-surrender to Jesus, his heroic missionary expedition to India in A.D. 52, his fearless preaching, and the powerful testimony given by his martyrdom in A.D. 72.
“I will not believe unless I see.” This “seeing” is what others demand of us. They ask that we reflect Jesus, the Risen Lord, in our lives. The integrity of our lives is a fundamental witness to others, who want to see Jesus alive and active and working in our lives.
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, "Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. (Jesus) said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, "Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, "!” Jesus said to him, "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”
"My Lord and my God!"
When Thomas answered, "My Lord and my God!", he was affirming the Divine nature of the Lord Jesus. For while the word "Lord" implied Jesus as "Master" and "Teacher," the word "God" implied Yahweh. In the person of Jesus, Thomas perceived the human and Divine natures.
Today's reading from the Gospel of John concludes by telling us that Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." (Jn. 20:29) These powerful words of Jesus were not meant for the little group that was present in the house. It was a blessing that was intended to surpass the days of the first disciples. It was addressed to all Christians of all time, including the faithful of today, including you and me.
Thomas, the “doubting apostle” makes the great profession of faith, “My Lord and my God.” Here Thomas utters the greatest confession of belief in the Lord who rose from the dead. This declaration by the “doubting apostle” in today’s gospel is very significant for two reasons. (1) It is the foundation of our Christian faith. Our faith is based on the divinity of Jesus as proved by his miracles, especially by the supreme miracle of his resurrection from the dead. Thomas’ profession of faith is the strongest evidence we have of the resurrection of Jesus. (2) Thomas’ faith culminated in his self-surrender to Jesus, his heroic missionary expedition to India in A.D. 52, his fearless preaching, and the powerful testimony given by his martyrdom in A.D. 72.
“I will not believe unless I see.” This “seeing” is what others demand of us. They ask that we reflect Jesus, the Risen Lord, in our lives. The integrity of our lives is a fundamental witness to others, who want to see Jesus alive and active and working in our lives.
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