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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