W E L C O M E !
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St. Therese Catholic Church
Ministered by the Discalced Carmelite Friars:
Pastor: Fr. Peter Mary Vecellio, OCDPas
Church Address:
1100 East Alhambra Road
Alhambra, California
Office (Mailing) Address:
510 North El Molino Street
Alhambra, California 91801
NAVIGATING OUR WEBSITE:
Under CONTACT can be found specific contact numbers for the priests, the staff, and the volunteer coordinators of our ministries and groups.
If you are unsure about where to find the topic for which you are looking, click SEARCH and then enter a keyword. All the locations where that subject is included will appear.
Under ABOUT US can be found the following topics: Parish Mission & Vision Statements * History of St. Therese Parish * Architect of St. Therese * Discalced Carmelite Friars
Under OUR PATRONESS, topics include: * Life of St. Therese of Lisieux * (Road to Sainthood) * Lives of the Parents of St. Therese * (Upcoming Canonization) and * Lives of the Sisters of St. Therese
Under REGISTER is information about registering at St.Therese Parish (including a form).
MASS AND CONFESSION TIMES (Mass/Conf) has its own link at the top of the page (Mass/Conf). Under that, there are subheadings for information about Low-Gluten Communicants.
Under SACRAMENTS, you can find information for Baptism, Funerals, First Communion, Confirmation for Youth, Confirmation for Adults, Weddings, and Anointing.of the Sick.
Under RELIGIOUS ED (Rel. Educ), you can find subheadings for the following: School of Religious Ed (children through 8th Grade); RCIA; Adult Confirmation, Youth Confirmation (High School), VIRTUS (Protecting God's Children), Adult Bible Study, and Vacation Bible School
Under the heading EVENTS, click on COMING UP for upcoming events, news, and announcements.
Under the heading MINISTRY can be found the following subjects:
Liturgical Ministries (Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Sacristans, Music Ministry, Altar Servers)
Prayer & Devotion Ministries (Perpetual Adoration, Exposition & Benediction, Rosary Prayer Group (including information on how to say the Rosary, as well as meditations and pictures for each mystery), Legion of Mary, St. Joseph Prayer Group, First Friday Mass, Intercessors for Priests prayer group, the Order of Secular Carmelites; and the Divine Mercy Devotion);
Respect Life Ministry (Articles written by Catherine Contreras (Respect Life Coordinator); Guadalupe Pregnancy Services [GPS]; and Natural Family Planning [NFP]
Peace & Justice Ministries (Christian Service, Detention Ministry, Rosary Makers);
Retreat Ministry (Men's Retreats, Women's Retreats),
Respect Life Ministry (pro-life events)
Avila Young Adults
Cor Jesu (youth and family ministry)
Under the heading Q & A can be found various CATECHISM articles written or compiled by our staff about the Catholic Faith and Liturgy
Under MEDIA you can find several PHOTO albums containing pictures of parishioners and parish events, etc., Formed (free membership for videos, books, etc., and some of our videos)
Under PRAYERS: Basic Catholic Prayers, Rosary Prayers, Novena Prayers, Prayers Composed by Saints, and Divine Mercy Prayers
Other headings are:
BULLETINS: Download PDF versions of the Sunday bulletin from January 2011 to the present);
SUBMIT NEWS: Click on this to submit an announcement for the website
CALENDAR: This will take you to our online Google calendar of events.
CONTACT: Find the phone numbers and emails for the Friars, the staff, and the volunteer heads of organizations.
SEARCH: If you're not sure where to find the subject you're interested in, use the search link to enter a key word and finds all the areas where that subject can be found.
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LECTURE SERIES: MYSTERY OF THE CHURCH
Fr. Stephen Watson, OCD, invites everyone to attend a new series of classes he is currently conducting on the "Mystery of the Church." These lectures are also serving as a catechetical mystagogy for the newly baptized. Mystagogy is a term that comes from the Greek word meaning, “to lead through the mysteries.” The Catechism describes mystagogy as a “liturgical catechesis that aims to initiate people into the mystery of Christ” (CCC 1075). Mystagogy is the form of catechesis that expounds on the spiritual treasures contained in the sacraments. St. Augustine refers to the Church as the “wondrous sacrament born from Christ’s side.”
The Acts of the Apostles serve as a primary reference for these classes. Fr. Stephen is also leading the class with a close reading of Lumen Gentium, which is the dogmatic constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council (Vatican II). The hymn, The Church’s One Foundation, embodies the theme and content of these classes.
These lectures are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month, from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., in the Parish Meeting Room of the Parish Center (first class was on September 17, 2024).
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REGISTRATION
REGISTRATION IS NOW CLOSED for our Religious Education classes. If you're already registered, we just want to remind you of the start and end times for the classes: Elementary grades are from 10:15 to 11:45 a.m.; High School Confirmation Classes are from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.; OCIA classes are from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. in the evenings (if attending on Thursdays) and from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. (if attending on Saturdays).
CLASS LOCATIONS: Elementary grades and high school confirmation classes are held in the school classrooms; OCIA/RCIA classes are held in the Mount Carmel Room in the Parish Office building (510 North El Molino Street--entrance is on the west side of the church at the south end of the building).
MAKE REPARATION TO THE SACRED HEART!
You are invited to come to the church for a weekly Holy Hour of Reparation to the Sacred Heart of Jesus EVERY FRIDAY from 5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the church. (Click on the first image above to enlarge it for easy reading; click on the second image to take you to a site where you can purchase the booklet that will be used during the holy hour. However, there are probably enough available copies for you to use one from the church).
A PASTOR'S RESPONSE TO FIDUCIA SUPPLICANS
My Dear Parishioners of St. Therese:
I want to address the recent document from The Holy See on the blessing of couples in irregular or same-sex relationships. Before proceeding, let it be said that it’s good for all of us to read the actual document and then read good commentaries on the document so that we’re not forming our opinions on false or misleading reporting. Doing so will also give us greater peace of mind and conviction to pray for our Church leaders. Below, I have provided links to the Vatican document along with three commentaries to aid you in this endeavor. They are all very thoughtful, fair, and critical—yet not mean-spirited.
DOCUMENT:
https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_ddf_doc_20231218_fiducia-supplicans_en.html
1) https://www.firstthings.com/web-exclusives/2023/12/the-cost-of-making-a-mess
2) https://catholicherald.co.uk/fiducia-supplicans-an-exercise-in-smoke-and-mirrors-where-spin-becomes-substance-and-appearance-reality/
3) https://www.catholicworldreport.com/2023/12/23/fiducia-supplicans-appears-to-have-failed-spectacularly/
The first commentary is from Archbishop Emeritus Charles Chaput, the former Ordinary of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. One especially insightful excerpt from his essay reads: “The document is a doubleminded exercise in simultaneously affirming and undercutting Catholic teaching on the nature of blessings and their application to ‘irregular’ relationships. And it was quickly interpreted as a significant change in Church practice.”
The second article makes an important distinction between doctrine and practice: “The Vatican….has set out to appear to change the Church’s teaching without in fact changing it. The distinction is achieved by changing the practice but not the principle. Orthodoxy remains untarnished, but orthopraxy—correct practice and worship—has been subverted.”
I encourage you to read these articles along with The Holy See document so that you can formulate for yourselves an educated opinion. My personal synthesis of what I’ve read on this topic leads me to conclude that no matter how much Fiducia Supplicans reaffirms the teaching of the Church on marriage and the inability to bless sin, the actual practice of giving blessings to couples in irregular or same-sex relationships by its very action sends the opposite message, thus leading to more confusion and pastoral abuse. In spite of this, I want to encourage each of us not to allow this poorly conceived and executed document to rattle our faith as it does not change the perennial teaching of the Church on the sanctity of marriage between one man and one woman. More than anything, it should impel us even more to pray for our leaders.
—Fr. Peter Mary, O.C.D.
HEALING PRAYER MINISTRY
“O Lord, my God, I cried out to you for help and you healed me!” -Psalm 30:3
The Healing Prayer Ministry of St. Therese Church provides personal prayer for the Parish community. You can find them after the Monday evening Mass (7:15 p.m.) in the church. They also offer private in-person sessions, phone sessions, and are available for outside events. Come and join! Thank you for your support! For more info, email hpmStc1@gmail.com.
FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS
Mark your calendar for the next First Saturday: October 4, to honor Our Lady of Fatima. On that day, join us to pray the Rosary and meditate for 15 minutes after the 8:00 a.m. Mass! For any questions, please contact Maria Alejandra at (626) 993-4236.
FORMED: CATHOLIC FAITH ON DEMAND
St. Therese Church has purchased a parish subscription to the Catholic media website, FORMED.ORG, for the benefit of ALL of you! Discover all the best Catholic content in one place: Entertaining movies, enlightening programs, inspiring talks, audio dramas, and a great selection of popular e-books--all just a link away! To register, click on the image above. Then, enter St. Therese Church, Alhambra, CA, click on it when you see it, and then enter your name and your email address--and get started enjoying all they have to offer! Click HERE to sign up.
CALLED TO RENEW
Thank you to everyone who made a five-year pledge or a one-time donation to the Called to Renew campaign. (To go to the website, click HERE.)
For those who pledged, depending upon what time period you selected, you will receive notices in the mail every month, every quarter, or every year reminding you of your pledge. The monies collected will allow St. Therese Parish to renovate our facilities. Fifty percent (50%) of all funds raised up to our goal will remain with our parish to address the following needs:
• Church interior renovations
• Painting the church Interior
•Repairing the stained glass windows
•Repairing the church’s tile roof
•Repairing / updating the lighting/wiring
•Repairing our school classrooms and parish offices (built over 70 years ago!)
VIDEOS OF THE ACTS OF THE APOSTLES
FR. ED BROOM, OMV, gave four talks at St. Therese on The Acts of the Apostles. Click the picture above to watch them on our YouTube channel. The first one was recorded on May 5, 2022.
VIDEOS OF THE SPIRITUAL EXERCISES OF ST. IGNATIUS
During February through April, 2022, Fr. Ed Broom, OMV, was here at St. Therese to give ten talks on the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius. The talks were all recorded, and you may view them by clicking the above picture. You will be taken to the page with the links to each talk and to the accompanying handouts for each talk. (Note: Once you are on that page, you may have to scroll down until you find the same picture you see above.)
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HOLIDAY LUNCHEON & BOUTIQUE BY THE CLOISTERED CARMELITE NUNS' AUXILIARY
YOU ARE INVITED to join the Auxiliary for their annual Holiday Luncheon and Boutique. It includes a Treasure Sale and you can also purchase the Nuns’ specialty breads, candy, nuts, and handmade items, as well as plants and holiday gift items. There will also be a 50/50 Raffle and a Silent Auction. It will be held on Friday, November 15, at Connolly Hall at Holy Family Church (1501 Fremont Avenue) in South Pasadena. It will begin at 10:30 a.m. with the Boutique and a Social Hour, followed by the Luncheon at 12:00 Noon. The donation per person is $45. Make your check payable to “Cloistered Carmelite Nuns’ Auxiliary” and mail it to Kathy Cardoza, 710 Lindaraxa Park South, Alhambra 91801. For any questions, call Kathy at (626) 570-9012. Kindly RSVP by November 5! | Handicapped drop-off at the Oak Street Driveway!
DONATIONS OF ITEMS FOR THE BOUTIQUE: We are still collecting items to be sold at this boutique. We need items in good condition, such as decorative items, small appliances, figurines, photo frames, jewelry, vases, nice dishes, teapots, etc. (NO FURNITURE OR CLOTHING!!) For more info about donating and a drop-off location, please contact Rosemary Moreno at (626) 281-9211. Thank you!
FOR SALE: CENTENNIAL T-SHIRTS, HOODIES, ETC.
Click the picture above to place an order.
PRAY FOR OUR CARMELITE VOCATIONS
Click on the picture above to read Fr. Matthias Lambrecht's latest newsletter about those discerning a vocation with the Carmelites (Fr. Matthias is the Vocation Director). These vocations need your prayers as they continue their formation and discernment! Offer your Masses and Holy Communions for them and pray for them before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. God bless you!
INTERVIEW BY TERRY BARBER ABOUT SAINT THERESE CARMELITE SCHOOL
Alma Cornejo, Principal of St. Therese Carmelite School, and former pastor, Fr. Thomas Koller, join Terry to discuss the definition and importance of a “classical” Catholic education in these most trying of times when our children are targets of an increasingly secular and amoral society. If you have school-aged children, take a look! Just click on the picture above to access the video.
PRAYER BEFORE RECEIVING HOLY COMMUNION
O Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, who according to the will of the Father and with the cooperation of the Holy Spirit hast by Thy death given life unto the world, I adore and revere this Thy holy Body and this Thy holy Blood which was given over and poured forth for the many unto the remission of sins. O merciful Lord, I beg of Thy mercy that through the power of this sacrament Thou wilt make me one of that many. Through faith and love make me feel the power of these sacraments so I may experience their saving power. Absolve and free from all sin and punishment of sin Thy servants, Thy handmaidens, myself, all who have confessed their sins to me, those whom I have promised or am obliged to pray for, and so too those who themselves hope or beg to be helped by my prayers with Thee. Make our Church rejoice in Thy constant protection and consolation. Amen.
ONLINE GIVING
Enroll Today!
Through Faith Direct you can make all of your contributions to St. Therese Church via automatic payment from your checking account or credit card--just as you may do now with your mortgage, household bills, and other monthly payments. This is a great way to simplify your giving--as well as being very cost-effective and environmentally-friendly. Of course, it's voluntary! The first step is to enroll in the program. To do so, click on the picture logo above. You will then be taken to the Faith Direct website. During your enrollment, you may choose from weekly donations, monthly donations, school donations, special collection donations, or one-time gifts. To watch an instructional video, go to the Online Giving link (next to the HOME page link at the top of the page). Thank you for your donations to St. Therese! May God bless you!
SAINT THERESE CARMELITE SCHOOL VIDEOS
Watch the video, "THE BEST SCHOOL IN THE WORLD"--ONE OF ONLY TWO SCHOOLS IN THE L.A. ARCHDIOCES USING A CLASSICAL CURRICULUM (click on the photo below to view it):
WATCH "LITTLE THINGS," by clicking on the photo below:
Watch "CLASSICAL NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE," by clicking on the photo below:
Watch a short film, "THE VEIL REMOVED" (When Heaven Meets Earth), by clicking on the photo below:
Watch this CARMELITE VOCATION VIDEO by clicking on the photo below (features friars you know and love!)
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