St. Cornelius Church 5500 WARDLOW RD. LONG BEACH, CA 90808 (562) 421-8966 FAX(562) 421-5096

www.stcorneliuslb.org

PASTOR’S CORNER 1 1

The phone rang. A young woman was on the other side of the call. “My name is Ka e, and my aunt is a mem-ber of your parish (in Kansas City). I am ge ng married in a month in a Catholic church in Alabama, but we are living here with my aunt and her family un l we start grad school in the fall. The priest at the church in Alabama says we need someone to do the paperwork so we can get married in the Catholic Church. Can you help us out?” The part of my brain that knows all the rules wanted to say, “I don’t think so.” But the other part of my brain encouraged me to inquire about this young couple’s circumstances: “Have you done any marriage prepara on?” “No, we tried but we could not find a Catholic Church within reasonable driving distance.” “Where were you?” “We were in different ci es. We each were doing a service year with Ameri- Corps, and we did not have many op-

ons.” “Ok — well, who is the priest who is witnessing the wedding?” “He is the pastor of the parish, but we don’t really know him.” I hear the sincerity in the young woman’s voice — and the panic. I think of her aunt, our parishioner, and her goodness and generosity to so many people. I remember that I frequently men on how grateful I am when young adults come to the Catholic Church to celebrate the sacrament of marriage. Here was one such couple. So, I begin to think about how we can make this work. With compassion and flexibility, we made it work. The phone rang. A woman of great faith and involvement in the parish community is on the other side of the call. “I cannot believe I am making

this call. My nephew and his wife were scheduled for a C-sec on in a week. When they went for the pre-op mee ng today, the baby did not have a heartbeat. They have lost the baby. We are all in such disbelief. I don’t know what they will want. They were raised Catholic, but they did not get married in the church. But could you help if they want to do a service?” And I reply: “We would be happy to assist with whatever they would like to do. I know that they are reeling with this news. I am so sorry.” Twenty-four hours later, the woman called again. “My nephew and his wife do want to come to the church and bring Sarah Marie’s cremains for a Mass. My nephew says this is what our family does in mes like these. Can we do that?” And I reply: “This is why we are here, and I am grateful they want to come to the church. Of course, we will do this.” Two days later, 200 family and friends gathered in the church for Mass for Sarah Marie. The parents of the infant daughter chose 1 Corinthi-ans 13:1-13, a passage read at their wedding, and two excerpts from the Gospels of Ma hew (18:1-5) and Mark (10:13-16). Sarah’s mom liked Psalm 139, so we sang “You Are Near” as the psalm response, and Sarah’s dad knew he wanted to sing “Be Not Afraid,” “On Eagle’s Wings,” “Though the Mountains May Fall,” and “Here I Am, Lord.” When we sang that last hymn, it was impossible to stop the tears for many who came to pray that day. This couple may not have been married in the Catholic Church, but they prepared this service like two young Catholic adults, clinging to the familiar balm of faith’s rituals and tradi ons. It seemed they had come

home to bury their infant daughter. When I consider these privileged moments of pastoral care, I am remind-ed of what Pope Francis has wri en in his apostolic exhorta on Amoris Lae a (“The Joy of Love”):

“There are two ways of thinking which recur throughout the Church’s history: cas ng off and reinsta ng. The Church’s way, from the me of the Council of Jerusalem, has always been the way of Jesus, the way of mercy and reinstatement ... The way of the Church is ... to pour out the balm of God’s mercy on all those who ask for it with a sincere heart ... For true charity is always unmerited, uncondi onal and gratuitous ... It is a ma er of reaching out to everyone, of needing to help each person find his or her proper way of par cipa ng in the ecclesial community and thus to experience being touched by an “unmerited, uncondi onal and gratuitous” mercy.” (#296, 297) Nearly every day, parish ministers have the opportunity to put these words to work. Mercy and reinstate-ment take me, more me than cas ng off. But they also ensure the ability to sleep at night and to look at one’s pastoral self in the mirror each morning, knowing we have done our best to do as Jesus would do.

MERCY AND REINSTATEMENT Pouring out the balm of God’s mercy within the ecclesial community

By PEG EKERDT

PASTOR’S CORNER 1

Siempre Adelante, Fr. Mike

FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Boast in the Lord What are you most proud of? What do you like to boast about? Were you top of your class in college? Do you work harder than anyone in your office? Or are you the best at appearing to work hard, but hardly working? Everyone likes to have something they are the best at, or at least very good. But it really is kind of silly to base your own worth on what you accom-plish. What truly makes us important is that we are loved by God. Our second reading tells how God uses the foolish, weak, or poorest people to shame those who are wise, strong, and wealthy. Why? Because God loves the poor, the weak, the disabled, the home-less just as much as God loves the important people. And it's not just the external quali es that are im-portant. Some wealthy people have great love for the poor. Some of the best teachers only work with disa-bled children. Our Gospel on the Bea tudes today makes that clear if you listen carefully. Blessed are not just the poor, but the poor in spirit; not only the hun-gry, but those who hunger for righteousness. That's what Saint Paul means when he says, "Whoever boasts, should boast in the Lord" (1 Corinthians 1:31). So how do we get to be "important" to God? Instead of asking God to make my projects a success, I can ask what God wants me to do. And for all the good that you do, remember to thank the Lord. Tom Schmidt, Copyright (c) J. S. Paluch Co.

2 LITURGY

MASS INTENTIONS † = Indicates Deceased

Sunday, January 29 8:00 a.m. †Jean A. Smith †Nick Arias Jr. †Isabella Juliet Ramirez 10:00 a.m. †Stella Guinan †Brian Tempel †Rosanne Poyer 12:00 noon †Linda Angat †Mary Connor Dimling 5:00 p.m. Sandi Terrio †MaryAnn McMullin Monday, January 30 8:00 a.m. †Mrs. Helen Cu er †Elizabeth Gaudy 5:00 p.m. †Fr. Peter Bodes ner †Fe Pacana Souls in Purgatory Tuesday, January 31 8:00 a.m. †Francisca Ramirez †Dorothy Romero †Irene Procopenko 5:00 p.m. †Fr. Peter Bodesteiner Lori Rae Mar n (Birthday †Blake Cole Wednesday, February 01 8:00 a.m. Fr. Larry Darnell Fr. Edward Broom 5:00 p.m. †Ireneo Perez Brindle Family Thursday, February 02 8:00 a.m. †Karen Mestas †Devon McIntosh 5:00 p.m. †Fr. Peter Bodesteiner †Blake Cole Friday, February 03 8:15 a.m. †Patricia Magee Sarath Gona lake (Birthday) 5:00 p.m. †Patrick Dinh †Emilie Hurd Saturday, February 04 8:00 a.m. Nanda Wijetunga (Birthday) †Rosanne Poyer 5:00 p.m. Al & Alwina S llwell (60th Anniversary) †Ana Maria Soto G. †Florante Vitug Sunday, February 05 8:00 a.m. †John G. Weisenborn Charles Magee (Birthday) 10:00 a.m. Hasse Family †Shirley Prisk 12:00 noon †Sidney Villaluna †Marina Santos 5:00 p.m. Joan Aimerito †Jim Aimerito

WEEKEND MASSES Saturday, February 04 5:00 p.m Fr. Mike Gleeson Lector Joe Sova Sunday, February 05 8:00 a.m. Fr. Mike Gleeson Lector: Dan/Michele Bradley 10:00 a.m. Fr. Bill McLean Lector: Marie Perucho 12 noon Fr. George Reynolds Lector Doreen LaPorte 5:00 p.m. Fr. George Reynolds Lector: Mon Bigelow

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LITURGY

PARISH DIRECTORY Altar Servers Mike & Irene More ne 420-4565 Altar Society Nelly Cabutahe 421-8966 Ancient Order Of Hibernians Daniel McGowan 826-6140 Bereavement - Nancy Himes 928-2474 Bingo—Dannah Perez 316-4819 Cub Scouts - Shawn P. Kelly (714) 713-2015 Choir Director - Joe Patolo 421-8966 Cursillo - Frank Diaz 972-6195 Deten on Ministry Sr. Teresa Dougherty 429-0033 EM & Lector Coordinator Michele Bradley 420-6481 Hospital Ministry - Frank Schmidt 225-7571 Knights of Columbus Victor Magana 420-3214 LB Young Adult Ministry Jason Pillon 716-2608 Music Coordinator - Kathy Clay 420-3894 Parent Board - Laura Goglia 425-7813 People for Others Jenny Davidoff 420-3425 Project Achieve - Kathy Cabral 429-3835 RCIA—Audrey Hamamoto 421-8966 stcrcia2016@gmail.com Religious Educa on- Evelyn Padian 420-7613 Respect Life - Sylvia Aimerito 429-1965 Sacred Heart Retreats - Pam Branch 421-9087 St. Vincent de Paul - Claudia Meza 421-8011 Safeguard the Children Mary Brady 425-5541 School - Nancy Hayes, Principal 425-7813 Seniors Group - Rectory Office 421-8966 Serra Club - Richard MacDonald 425-1863 Ushers - Sam McCarthy 594-8212 Wedding Administrator Silvia Cerna 421-8966 Youth & Confirma on Cris na Hull & Mike Schmidt 420-7613

Fr. Mike Gleeson, Pastor Fr. George Reynolds, Associate Pastor

Richard Boucher, Deacon Joe Hamamoto, Deacon

MASS SCHEDULE Saturday 8:00 a.m.

5:00 p.m. Vigil Mass Sunday

8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. 12 noon & 5:00 p.m.

Monday-Thursday 8:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.

Friday 8:15 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.

CONFESSION SCHEDULE Thursday & Friday a er

5:00 p.m. Mass Saturday a er 8:00 a.m. Mass

Saturday 4:00 p.m. - 4:45 p.m.

Secretary’s E-mail: secretary.stcornelius@gmail.com

Rectory Hours MON-FRI

9:00 a.m.. —7:00 p.m. SAT & SUN

9:00 a.m.—12:00 p.m.

St. Cornelius Catholic School Principal—Nancy Hayes

3333 North Bellflower Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90808 Phone: 562-425-7813 www.stcornelius.net

PARISH INFORMATION 3

4 YOUTH FORMATION RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

No Religious Educa on Sessions Sunday, January 29th.

Due to the school open house, pancake breakfast and book sale, there will be no Early Childhood sessions or dismissal for Children’s Catechumenate or Liturgy of the Word.

THE LOS ANGELES RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CONGRESS RE Congress is the largest annual gathering of its kind in the world. The four-day event is held at the Anaheim (Calif.) Conven on Center and is sponsored by the Los Angeles Office of Religious Educa on.

Youth Day (February 23, 2017) – Congress opens on Thursday with a day-long event for high school youth. This is an opportunity for students – not only from the Los Angeles Archdiocese but throughout California and the western states – to come together and share in Liturgy, workshops, entertainment and to experience the energy of a Youth Day Rally. Congress days (February 24 – 26, 2017) – The re-maining three-day weekend is open to adults and young adults and offers more than 200 speakers presen ng over 300 workshops, in addi on to lunch me entertainment, evening concerts, 16 Liturgies in a variety of characters, the Exhibit Hall and much more.

Informa on is available online, www.recongress.org or in the Religious educa on Office

Run with Purpose! Join in the 3rd Annual Sisters of Notre Dame Nun Run 5K, 1 Mile and Community Service Fair on Saturday February 4, 2017 at the La Reina campus in Thousand Oaks. The event will fea-ture 5K chip- ming, a pancake breakfast, ac vi es for kids, race day giveaways and other prizes. Lo-cal, non-profit service organiza ons will also be present to share informa on about their mis-sion, programs and volunteer opportuni es. This is a family-friendly event and is open to all ages and fitness levels. Proceeds support the Sisters of Notre Dame Life and Ministry Fund, provid-ing spiritual, educa onal and social outreach lo-cally and around the world. Sign up today at: www.sndca.org/nunrun . Ques ons? Please con-tact Anne Interrante at 805-917-3730 or nun-run@sndca.org.

COMMUNITY NEWS SAFEGUARD THE CHILDREN Did you know? Pay a en on to and address risky behavior It is possible for children to abuse other children, and that when it happens, the effects can be devas-ta ng for the child who has been abused. As care-givers, make sure to no ce any young people who are exhibi ng behaviors that are troublesome or inappropriate. Be there to step in when high-risk behavior is present. Support the youth, and give him/her the opportunity to get professional help, to go to counseling with a therapist that is trained in this issue, and to talk with you about the challenges they are facing so that together you can find solu-

ons. For a copy of the VIRTUS© ar cle “Turning Our A en on to Teen and Youth Offenders,” email jvienna@la-archdiocese.org or call (213) 637-7227.

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CONNECTING THE DOTS Spirituality Book Club The con nuing discussion of the book, The Name Of God is Mercy, Pope Francis's conversa on with Andrea Tornielli will be February 16, 7:00p.m. at Duffy's. Call Norma, 562:429-1094 or Deacon Rich for more informa on. All are welcome. We meet the third Thursday of each month. Come and sug-gest some new authors! The LB library has some copies of this book. Call Norma at (562)429-1094 or Deacon Rich Boucher for more informa on.

FAITH AND FICTION St. Cornelius Book Discussion Group The next mee ng of the book club will be held on Monday, February 20 in the school library. The book we will be discussing is “The Nigh ngale” by Kris n Hammanh. We meet on the third Monday of every month, except December. In December we will be mee ng on the 2nd Monday. You are welcome to join us. For more info, call Katy Ellis at 607-1100.

Please Pray for the Souls of

STELLA GUINAN ROSANNE MALAGAMALII POYER

May They Rest in Peace

ADULT FAITH & SPIRITUALITY

Adam & Carla Mars Sandee Bradley DJ Barwick Peggy Hasse Dolores Lounsbury Peggy Pen s Walter Bordeaux Terri Roach Erin & Brian Longhofer Ghusn Mhawji Martha Burris Frances Boudreau Lee Hicks Sio Patolo Kasiano Alai Julienne Aoga Patricia Wolfe Margaret Haskins Samuel McCarthy Sherill S llwell Judy Klenk Jonathan Kolp Frank Novak Richard LaPorte Jean Wells Karen Gingras

Patricia Moore Alvin York Jack Alva Cooper Chris Leon Greg & Laurie Kelly Diane Reed Patrick Connolly Christopher Cathcart Larry Gaudy Debbie DeSan s Travis Melnick Joseph Lesko Helen Orth Dave Wills Henry Sarnecki Bob Early Jenni Rojas Rochelle Lewis Lavin Alma Gomez Percival Francisco Brian Lehman Paxton Thompson Maria Valadez

PRAYERS FOR THE SICK For The Sick Who Have Asked To Be Remembered In Prayer:

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7 COMMUNITY NEWS

ST. VINCENT DE PAUL SOCIETY In the Gospel today Jesus gives us the Bea tudes, which embody a radically alterna ve vision of life and we find that God indeed calls us to blessed-ness. Is there a neighbor or friend of yours who is in temporary need because of a loss of a job or an illness? Please have them call 562-421-8011...we want to help!

PANCAKE BREAKFAST The Annual Athle c Pancake Breakfast is coming up on Sunday, January 29, 2017. Come enjoy breakfast while suppor ng our student ath-letes. The breakfast includes: eggs, sausage, pan-cakes, orange juice, and coffee. Tickets are $7, if purchased from a student athlete, and $8 if pur-chased the day of the breakfast. There will be a raffle with ckets sold that morning. The breakfast runs from 9 a.m. to 12 noon.

RESPECT LIFE NEWS & NOTES Our Rosary and Mass for Life is the first Sunday of every month beginning at 4:30pm right here

at St. Cornelius. Your team not in the Super Bowl? You mad at the NFL? Then join us Sunday,

Feb 5th, to pray for the unborn!

Catechism of the Catholic Church on Abor on 2270—Human Life must be respected and pro-tected absolutely from the moment of concep-

on. From the first moment of his existence, a human being must be recognized as having the rights of a person—among which is the inviola-

ble right of every innocent being to life.

2271– Since the first century the Church has affirmed the moral evil of every procured abor-

on. This teaching has not changed and re-mains unchangeable. Direct abor on, that is to

say, abor on willed wither as an end or a means, is gravely contrary to the moral law: you

shall not kill the embryo by abor on and shall not cause the newborn to perish. For further reading visit usccb.org

POST ABORTION HEALING

Rachel’s Vineyard retreat, this March 3-5, is for women and men struggling with the emo onal and spiritual pain of abor on. The retreat is designed to help par cipants work through repressed grief and anger in a safe, nonjudgmental se ng and come to acceptance, healing, and hope for the future. De-veloped in the Roman Catholic Tradi on, it u lizes

spiritual exercises and rituals to help grieve the loss of unborn children and to accept God’s forgiveness.

All inquires and registra ons are confiden al. For more informa on

call 866-2-RACHEL (866-272-2435)

AudioGirlMinistries.com Like us on Facebook. Twi er @AudioGirlM

Sylvia Aimerito 562-429-1965

OPEN ENROLLMENT St. Cornelius School is now accep ng applica-

ons for the 2017-2018 school year. Transi on-al Kindergarten (TK) and Kindergarten applica-

ons are due to the school office by Monday, January 30. Children applying for Transi onal Kindergarten must be 4 years old by September 1, 2017. Children applying for Kindergarten must be 5 years old by December 1, 2017. Kin-dergarten applicants will be screened for readi-ness in February.

Please call the school office at (562) 425-7813 or drop by to pick up an applica on packet. Applica ons are available on the school web-site at www.stcornelius.net. Click on the Admis-sions link at the top of the home page and then click on Applica on Form.

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