SCHEDULE OF MASSES

SATURDAY: 8:30 AM, 5:30 PM Vigil

SUNDAY: 7:00 AM, 8:30 AM,

10:15 AM,12 Noon,

4:00 PM (Vietnamese), 6:30 PM

WEEKDAY: 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM

FIRST WEDNESDAY: 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 6:30 PM

FIRST FRIDAY: 6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 6:30 PM, 8:00 PM (Vietnamese)

HOLY DAY:

8:00 PM (Vietnamese/English) Vigil

6:30 AM, 8:30 AM, 7:00 PM

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION

SAT: 4:00 PM - 5 :00 PM,

6:30 PM - 7:00 PM, and by appointment

St. Christopher Church is a faith-community of diverse

people who gather to joyfully celebrate life, faith and love in

Jesus Christ through serving others.

629 S. Glendora Ave., West Covina, CA 91790

TEL: (626) 960-1805 FAX: (626) 851-0595

OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Sat: 9AM to 1PM and 2PM to 6PM Sun: 8AM to 4PM

EMAIL: sccwestcovina@gmail.com WEBSITE: www.sccwestcovina.net

Pastor Rev. Joseph Dass

Associate Pastor/

Vietnamese Community Chaplain Rev. Khoa L. Mai

Permanent Deacons Deacon Douglas Moloney (Retired)

Deacon Loc Nguyen Deacon Jesse Batacan Deacon Andrew Cho

School Principal Lucia Saborio

Director of Religious Formation Judi Peña

Parish Secretary Elizabeth Hudson

629 S. Glendora Ave., West Covina, CA 91790

TEL: (626) 960-1805 FAX: (626) 851-0595

OFFICE HOURS: Mon - Sat: 9AM to 1PM and 2PM to 6PM Sun: 8AM to 4PM

EMAIL: sccwestcovina@gmail.com WEBSITE: www.sccwestcovina.net

Page 2 St. Christopher Catholic Church Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

Responsorial Psalm Ps 15:2-3, 3-4, 4-5

R./ The one who does justice will live in the presence of the Lord.

Whoever walks blamelessly and does justice; who thinks the truth in his heart and slanders not with his tongue. R./ Who harms not his fellow man, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor; by whom the reprobate is despised, while he honors those who fear the LORD. R./ Who lends not his money at usury and accepts no bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things shall never be disturbed. R./

A reading from the Book of Deuteronomy Dt 4:1-2, 6-8 Moses said to the people: "Now, Israel, hear the statutes and decrees which I am teaching you to observe, that you may live, and may enter in and take possession of the land which the LORD, the God of your fathers, is giving you. In your observance of the commandments of the LORD, your God, which I enjoin upon you, you shall not add to what I command you nor subtract from it. Observe them carefully, for thus will you give evidence of your wisdom and intelligence to the nations, who will hear of all these statutes and say, 'This great nation is truly a wise and intelligent people.' For what great nation is there that has gods so close to it as the LORD, our God, is to us whenever we call upon him? Or what great nation has statutes and decrees that are as just as this whole law which I am setting before you today?"

The Word of the Lord. Response: Thanks be to God.

A reading from the Letter of Saint James Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27 Dearest brothers and sisters: All good giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no alteration or shadow caused by change. He willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. Humbly welcome the word that has been planted in you and is able to save your souls Be doers of the word and not hearers only, deluding yourselves. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world. The Word of the Lord. Response: Thanks be to God.

Alleluia Jas 1:18 R. Alleluia, alleluia. The Father willed to give us birth by the word of truth that we may be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. R. Alleluia, alleluia.

September 2, 2018 St. Christopher Catholic Church Page 3

If you wish to offer prayers for the recovery of your love ones, please contact the parish office at 626-960-1805

♦ Deacon Frank Kolbash ♦ Cesar Esmane ♦ Pablo Deang

♦ Rick William Espinoza

Your prayers are requested for the recovery of:

Mike & llse Andreas, Salvador Zubia, Jack Arambula, Mynerva Balay, Adell Spears, Martin Crouch, Ricardo Vasquez, Maria G. Vasquez, Noel Tolentino, David Wells, Orlando Garcia, Graciela Lomeli, Tessie Aquino, Jessica Gonzalez, Lisa Ayala, Cole Allison, Paul Yoon, Rodrigo Nava, Mariana Castillo, Ma. Teresa Najera Al Lozano, Matthew Sarnecki, Marvin Campos, Dan Batacan, Elisea Bautista, Rosa Ruiz, Steven Barktold, Severina Villar, Marieta Diaz, Oscar Diaz, Gloria Esteban, Juanita Laguitao, Rosalinda Mayoral, Michael Ehrenberger, Sylvia Alvarez, Aidric Barcelona, Ric Barcelona, Guille Rivas, Gustavo Schiavon, Gabriela Dinu, Reiko Sakata, Bruce Holmen, Fernando Aguilar, Rosie Tarengo, Marie Aguilar, Jacqui Tan, Teresita Mindaro, June Kimchki, Elizabeth Stephens, Karla Sandoval, Kena Saldana, Tan Rizal, Heliadora Tan, Sonia Sotto, John Aguilar, Estelita P. Santos, Karen Dirige, Jacqueline de Luna, Carlos Gonzales, Gregorio Descaderio and Alba Valbuena.

May their souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen

♦ Belanna A. Aguilar ♦ Athena H. Castellon

♦ Eros A. Castellon ♦ Ella S. Romero

♦ Landon Tran ♦ Christopher O. Trinh

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23

When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands.—For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds. — So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, "Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?" He responded, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." He summoned the crowd again and said to them, "Hear me, all of you, and understand. Nothing that enters one from outside can defile that person; but the things that come out from within are what defile. "From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly. All these evils come from within and they defile."

The Gospel of the Lord.

Response: Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Holy Mother Church Welcomes You with Great Joy!

Page 4 St. Christopher Catholic Church Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time

MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK

MASS READINGS FOR THE WEEK

Monday: 1 Cor 2:1-5 Sep 3 Lk 4:16-30 Tuesday: 1 Cor 2:10b-16 Sep 4 Lk 4:31-37 Wednesday: 1 Cor 3:1-9 Sep 5 Lk 4:38-44 Thursday: 1 Cor 3:18-23 Sep 6 Lk 5:1-11 Friday: 1 Cor 4:1-5 Sep 7 Lk 5:33-39 Saturday: Mi 5:1-4a Sep 8 Mt 1:1-16, 18-23 [18-23] Sunday: Is 35:4-7a Sep 9 Jas 2:1-5 Mk 7:31-37

Just Visit our Website: www.sccwestcovina.net click the Online Giving Tab to register. Begin a

convenient and Safe way to make a one-time or recurring donation.

No more envelopes…No more checks. It’s that EASY! Try it TODAY! A secure & convenient way to give to

St. Christopher Church

AUGUST 26, 2018 SUNDAY COLLECTIONS

SUNDAY OFFERTORY ENVELOPE $ 6,467.92 SUNDAY OFFERTORY PLATE $ 4,800.03

TOTAL $11,267.95

Tuesday, September 4

6:30 a.m. — Said Jacob (D) Isauro & Consolacion Abesamis † 8:30 a.m. (D) Jess M. Limas † (D) Ambrocio Jaurigue †

(D) Agustine M. Zeta † Wednesday, September 5 6:30 a.m. — Ferdinand Asuncion

8:30 p.m. (D) Bertin Tañada † — Michelle Ramirez — Philomena & Micaela Marquez

6:30 p.m. — Asuncion Family

Thursday, September 6 6:30 a.m. (D) Anita Santos Gonzales † 8:30 a.m. (D) Rolando Asuncion † (D) Greg Basilio † — Karl Benedict Macasaet Friday, September 7 6:30 a.m. — Daffy Cruz

8:30 a.m. (D) Guillermo Portacio † 6:30 p.m. — Michelle Zimmer

Saturday, September 8 8:30 a.m. — Lucy Bonilla-Castillo

Saturday, September 1 5:30 p.m (D) Pablo Deang †

Sunday, September 2 7:00 a.m. (D) Mer Buhay † — Humberto Vazquez

— Monty Hudson

8:30 a.m (D) Federico Schneegans † (D) Anne Farrington † — Amaral Family 10:15 a.m. (D) Efrenia Bonifacio † — Jaime Baca — Mass of Thanksgiving

12:00 Noon (D) All Souls in Purgatory † (D) Gloria Gelormini †

(D) Phyllis Hatch † 6:30 p.m. — St. Christopher Church Parishioners

Monday, September 3 (Labor Day)

8:30 a.m. (D) Bertin Tañada † (D) Edel Quinn † (D) Alphonsus Lambe †

Sepetmber 2, 2018 St. Christopher Catholic Church Page 5

Are You Being Called to Serve?

Join St. Christopher Church Ministry as a Eucharistic Minister of Holy Communion, Minister of the Sick, Bereavement, Lector, Usher, Altar Server, Hospitality and more. Complete the ministry form at the parish office and a ministry coordinator will contact you.

PART TIME CUSTODIAN NEEDED @ St. Christopher Church

All around church maintenance. Flexible hours Work references. Virtus Training and Fingerprinting will be required. PART TIME FRONT OFFICE HELP Customer Service - Telephone Etiquette and Computer Savvy. Flexible hours including weekends.

Contact Soneeh Estep 714-904-7833

Saint James begins by instructing us that "All good giving and every perfect gift is from above." We don't make the rules, but God grants us good gifts that we are to share generously with others. He says, "Be doers of the word and not hearers only . . . Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their affliction and to keep oneself unstained by the world." We are to care for our brothers and sisters in need, and especially for the children, who are often the forgotten little ones. Jesus further defines what being defiled by the world really means. "From within people, from their hearts, come evil thoughts, unchastity, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, licentiousness, envy, blasphemy, arrogance, folly." Quite a list! Jesus asserts that "All these evils come from within and they defile." "Not following man-made laws" did not make the list. HUMAN TRADITION It would be easy to wonder why the disciples ate "with unwashed hands," especially in those times when dust and dirt were plentiful and the disciples worked with their hands as fishermen. But these scriptures are not concerned so much with physical cleanliness as with spiritual cleanliness. The Pharisees, who were so picky about following every letter of every law, had an "aha" moment in which they saw an opportunity to accuse Jesus and the disciples of breaking the law of Moses. Jesus responds in a very sensible way. He says, "Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, But their hearts are far from me; In vain do they worship me, Teaching as doctrines human precepts. You disregard God's commandment but cling to human tradition." TRADITION TODAY The same could be said about some of today's Christians, who are so enamored of the past that they cannot see that Jesus has brought about a new interpretation of tradition. Just as we celebrate birthdays with cake and candles, perhaps now with chocolate cake and tiny candles--whereas in the past it was only white cake and bigger candles--tradition adapts to the times while holding on to the essence of what was celebrated before. Tradition preserves the essence while changing the details, something that some of us may fail to grasp. Such people may want everything to be the same in every detail, and accuse others of failure to worship properly because they do not hold to past practices. Like the Pharisees, sometimes we want to cling to the way things were done our childhood, never accepting change of any kind. We fail to see the essence of the tradition preserved in a new way of doing things. Perhaps we don't understand the essence of tradition, or perhaps we are so unsure of ourselves that we want to be instructed strictly in the old ways, like the Pharisees who knew the law by heart and were quite comfortable practicing what poorer people had no way of doing perfectly. It was the poorer people who followed Jesus because he offered them hope. It would be well for us to remember that the essence of tradition is the worship of God, not the preservation of human habits. We can learn to practice charity and love in emulation of others who have willingly, in following Jesus, held their faith to mean loving their neighbor.

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Fr. Joseph Dass, Chaplain Contact: Soneeh Estep (714) 904-7833