MASS TIMES SUNDAYS: Sat. 5:30 pm (Vigil), 7:30 am, 10 am & 12 noon

WEEKDAYS: Mon., Tues., Fri, and Sat. 8 am (Wed. & Thurs. 8 am Communion Service)

HOLY DAYS: (eve of) 5:30 pm; (day of) 8 am & 6:30 pm

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION (Confession) Saturdays 4 – 5 pm or by appointment

DEVOTIONS Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Saturday 7:50 am

ADORATION First Friday 8:30 am – 5 pm, Rectory Oratory

Rev. Thomas Baker — Pastor Deacon Manuel Valencia • Deacon John Hull (retired)

318 North Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre Mailing Address: 50 East Alegria Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 Phone: (626) 355-1292 • FAX: (626) 355-2290 • www.st-rita.org

St. Rita of CasciaSt. Rita of CasciaSt. Rita of Cascia A Catholic Faith Community Since 1908

MAY 5, 2019 3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER

2 CONTACT INFORMATION PASTORAL STAFF Rev. Thomas Baker, Pastor frtombaker@st-rita.org ● 355-1292 Deacon Manuel & Chela Valencia, Permanent Deacon Couple deaconmanuelvalencia@gmail.com ● 355-1292 Deacon John & Marylee Hull, Retired Deacon Couple johnhull65@gmail.com ● 355-1292 Chuck & Linda McDaniels, Deacon Couple-in-training chuckmcdaniels@gmail.com ● 355-1292 Fr. Chris Thiel, OFM Cap., Weekend Supply Priest

ADMINISTRATIVE & MINISTRY STAFF Director of Administration 355.1292 x222 Charlene Henkelmann charlene@st-rita.org Director of Liturgy & Music 355-1292 x231 Paul Puccinelli mm@st-rita.org Facilities Manager 355-1292 x232 Mara Chimenti mara@st-rita.org Receptionists reception@st-rita.org Registration Coordinator 355-1292 x230 Sheila Palazzolo Database Administrator 355-1292 x226 Jennifer Bowen rc@st-rita.org Pastoral Council Maryann MacGillivray pastoral@st-rita.org Archivist 355-1292 x233 Marilyn McKernan marilyn@st-rita.org Webmaster 355-1292 Ralph Seymour seymour@seymourmedia.com Bulletin Submissions 355-1292 x226 Jennifer Bowen bulletin@st-rita.org

EDUCATION & FAITH FORMATION St. Rita School Principal 355-6114 Joanne Harabedian harabedian@st-ritaschool.org St. Rita School Secretary 355-6114 x102 Sara Landis landis@st-ritaschool.org Director of Faith Formation 590-8828 Theresa Costanzo dff@st-rita.org Youth Ministry Coordinator 355-1292 Jackie Hischier ymcoordinator@st-rita.org Elementary Faith Formation Coordinator 355-1292 x228 Mandi Welman eff@st-rita.org RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) 355-1292 Dcn. Manuel Valencia / Susan Blakeslee / rcia@st-rita.org Gary Fidone

PARISH LIFE & MINISTRY Altar Servers Kathy Ganino & Bill Cosso altarservers@st-rita.org Amazing Grace Prayer Ministry Tom Tharayil amazing.grace@st-rita.org Bereavement Ministry Sheila Palazzolo bereavement@st-rita.org Catholic Bible Study Jim & Alice Cobbin biblestudy@st-rita.org Christian Family Group Ana Ptasinski christian.family@st-rita.org Church Environment Parish Offices environment@st-rita.org Eucharistic Adoration Kathy Ganino eucharistic.adoration@st-rita.org Eucharistic Outreach Chuck McDaniels eucharistic.outreach@st-rita.org Finance Council Bill Sullivan finance@st-rita.org Holy Housekeepers Patty Sullivan holy.house@st-rita.org Immaculate Heart of Mary Prayer Group Susan Day mary.prayer@st-rita.org Knights of Columbus, Council 5137 Dave Loera & Elgyn Cortes kofc@st-rita.org Knit & Crochet Ministry Ana Ptasinski & Ann Wolf knitcrochet@st-rita.org Lectors & Eucharistic Ministers David & Jill Muhs em@st-rita.org Prayer Shawl & Lap Blanket Ministry Mary Taillac & Marilyn Delgatto shawl.blanket@st-rita.org Porters Sheila Palazzolo porters@st-rita.org Sacristan Coordinator David Muhs em@st-rita.org St. Rita Filipino American Group Noel Wychico filipino.amer@st-rita.org St. Rita Guild Margaret Fullinwider & Lenore Crilly guild@st-rita.org St. Rita Men’s Club Justin Smith mens.club@st-rita.org Senior Ministry Marilyn McKernan senior@st-rita.org Ushers & Greeters Dave Loera ushers@st-rita.org Volunteer Coordinator Sheila Palazzolo volunteer@st-rita.org Young Adult Ministry/Biceps & Bibles Priya Tharayil yam@st-rita.org

Baptisms First Sunday of the month after the Noon Mass. Registration and Catechesis are prerequisites. Please contact the Parish Office.

Marriages Contact the Parish Office upon engagement; at least six months is needed for preparation of this joyous sacrament!

Reconciliation and First Eucharist Preparation for children who have attained the age of reason (usually during 2nd grade) is arranged either through the Religious Education Program or St. Rita Elementary School.

Confirmation A two-year program for freshman/sophomore age teens. Please apply through the Youth Ministry Program.

Communion for the Sick and Homebound St. Rita Eucharistic Ministers provide Communion home visits. Contact the Parish Office.

Anointing of the Sick and Funeral Liturgies Please notify us for the Anointing of the Sick, the sacrament intended for the seriously ill or dying which brings Our Lord’s special presence and companionship in serious time of need. If someone should die without anointing, remember that the desire to receive is sufficient.

If your loved one has passed, we will assist in making arrangements with your chosen funeral director; refer you to our Bereavement Ministry and Music Ministry; and offer you helpful guidelines that will aid in the selection of readings for a Mass or Memorial Service. We know this can be a tough time and we want you to know that your parish is here for you. Please understand we only have one resident priest; sometimes arrangements for another priest may be needed.

SACRAMENTS

ST. RITA CATHOLIC FAITH COMMUNITY 3rd Sunday of Easter • May 5, 2019

PASTOR’S CORNER 3

Dear Parishioners and Visitors:

Our gospel today is another appearance of the risen Lord after his resurrection. Toward the end of this gospel Jesus asks Peter three times, “Do you love me?” The actual Greek was a play on words, something that is missed in the English translation. In Greek there are three words for love: “agape” (unconditional love), “philia” (brotherly love) and “eros” (romantic or sexual love). Two of these words for love are used in today’s gospel. Jesus asks Peter the first two times, “Do you agape me (unconditionally love)?” Both times Peter responds by saying, “Lord you know that I philia you (brotherly love).” The third time, Jesus changes the question and asks Peter who has been unable to respond with the unconditional/agape love, “Do you philia me?” And Peter says, “Of course I philia you.” The impact of this section deepens with understanding of the different words for love, for Jesus chooses to come to the level of love where Peter is, he doesn’t insist that Peter come to his level. Jesus always invites us to deeper love, deeper commitment and greater service. But the invitation doesn’t force us. We meet Jesus at our level, not at His. This is the wonder of the incarnation, where God comes down from heaven to our level. God loves us so much and wants us to rise to His level of unconditional love. But until we are able, God takes us where we’re at and builds from there. May our love for God grow and may our kindness toward others reflect the kind of love and understanding we see in Jesus. Peace.

—Fr. Tom

Jesus Comes to Our Level

CARDINAL McINTYRE FUND FOR CHARITY

This weekend we have the opportunity to support the Cardinal McIntrye Fund for Charity. Since 1951, the Cardinal McIntrye Fund for Charity has offered hope for those in crisis situations throughout the Archdiocese of Los Angeles. Your contributions go directly toward providing emergency needs for children, adults and families and provides one-time emergency help for food, utilities, medical, housing or funeral expenses. This fund is specifically for use by pastors when needy parishioners come to them seeking assistance. Please be as generous as possible.

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

Next Monday, May 13, Fr. Tom will continue his Adult Faith Formation course on the subject of the Seven Sacraments, held in O’Malley Hall from 7:00—9:00 p.m. on the 2nd Monday of each month. The topic of this session is the Sacrament of Confirmation — this is the time of year the bishops go from parish to parish confirming our young people. All are welcome to learn more about this sacrament of initiation; please mark your calendars and enhance your faith.

ST. RITA CATHOLIC FAITH COMMUNITY 3rd Sunday of Easter • May 5, 2019

PLEASE PRAY FOR THOSE WHO REQUEST OUR PRAYERS: John Bigley, Michaelyn Fidone, Ronald Van Orden, Mary Kiss, Lisa Bowman, Alison Lex, Charlie Arredondo, Erny Henry, Dorothy Van Gorden, Scott Van Gorden, Benjamin Mamaril, Susie Pinter, Susan Devin, Sawtell John, Inez Ybarra, Josephine & Joseph Gruppie, Francesca DiFranco, Pat Hrstich, Charlotte Meyer, Audrey Newell, Richard Forcione, Mary Kathryn Genzlinger, Heidi & Terry Kelly, Toni Baiunco, Jacquie Marshall Martin, Teresa D’Agostaro, Carol Cerrina, Carmen Ruiz, Maria Blust, Rosemarie Casalicchio, Glen Blaser, Barbara Blaser, Daisy Walters, Salvatore Termini, Mary Rodriguez, Pete & Daisy Olson, Margaret Fala, Hannah Waken, Robert & Clare Greteman, Lalo Arriaga, Jim Crilly, Trini Marti, Joann Little, Luz Arriaga, Doug Peterson, Sandra Osborne, Evelyn Tres, Gerald Drean, Toni Navarro, Clare Marquardt, Tonyja Blakeslee, Edith Olah, Fred Mycroft, Joseph Moore.

MASS INTENTIONS SATURDAY, MAY 4 8:00 AM William Carroll RIP 5:30 PM Virginia Krause RIP

SUNDAY, MAY 5 7:30 AM For all parishioners 10:00 AM Gary Michael Murphy RIP 12 NOON George Najarian RIP

MONDAY, MAY 6 8:00 AM Richard DeBlois INT

TUESDAY, MAY 7 8:00 AM Richard Kuhn INT

WEDNESDAY, MAY 8 8:00 AM Communion Service

THURSDAY, MAY 9 8:00 AM Communion Service

FRIDAY, MAY 10 8:00 AM Molly Lynch RIP

SATURDAY, MAY 11 8:00 AM Charles Day RIP 5:30 PM Irene Newell RIP

SUNDAY, MAY 12 7:30 AM Doris Behrens RIP 10:00 AM For all mothers 12 NOON For all parishioners

FEAST DAYS & OBSERVANCES

Friday: Sts. Damien de Veuster

TODAY’S READINGS

First Reading — God exalted Jesus as leader and savior (Acts 5:27-32, 40b-41).

Psalm — I will praise you, Lord, for you have rescued me (Psalm 30).

Second Reading — To the Lamb be blessing and honor, glory and might (Revelation 5:11-14).

Gospel — When the disciples came ashore, they saw a charcoal fire with fish on it and bread (John 21:1-19 [1-14]).

Please note: names on the Sick List are published for thirty days unless otherwise

requested. To add or remove a name, please contact the Parish Office or email:

bulletin@st-rita.org

4 LITURGY, WORSHIP, AND COMMUNITY

The Rosary & the Chaplet of Divine Mercy are recited as a group at 7:20 am

before the weekday Masses.

PARKING REMINDER

The entire upper parking lot north of the church is reserved for parishioners

with limited mobility for all Masses and celebrations. Thank you for your anticipated cooperation and courtesy by respecting this policy!

PRAY FOR VOCATIONS

Please remember to pray for more vocations to religious life and the

priesthood. This can be our special gift to the Church.

FIRST HOLY COMMUNION

Congratulations to all our students at St. Rita School who received the Sacrament of the Eucharist for the first time yesterday:

JAKE ALBERT KAYLA ALBERT AIDEN ALLEN

MAKAELA CANARES SOFIA CASTRO

MEREDITH CRANE EMILY FRECHETTE

MAKINLEY GIL ALLISON GLEASON

LUC GLORIA PEYTON GUTHRIE

PAUL HAGEN PEYTON HERDINA JOSHUA HIDALGO

ANER IGLESIAS JACK JUKIC

JASMIN KLAASSEN MORGAN LOERA

EVAN MARRA SEBASTIAN MIRANDA

JAKE MURPHY ROXANA ORTIZ

SIMON PALOMARES SISTINE PREFONTAINE

AMELIA QUINTANA ALEXANDER SANDOVAL

EILIDH TORRIE MAEVE TOTTEN ROBYN VANIS

MASON WINGET SARAH VALENCIA

Thank you to everyone who has helped bring our children to the Lord’s table, especially their parents, and their teacher, Sandra Arana.

ST. RITA CATHOLIC FAITH COMMUNITY 3rd Sunday of Easter • May 5, 2019

Elementary Faith Formation This program for children in Grades 1—8 begins with Sacrament Preparation and continues to invite children into a personal relationship with God through prayer, the Bible, liturgy, and church history. Classes meet on Monday afternoons during the school year.

Drop-In Programs Our Preschool Sunday School Ministry provides Bible stories, art projects and various activities for your potty-trained children ages 3-5 during the Sunday 10 a.m. Mass. Sunday School is held upstairs, above Gara Hall, in the art room.

Children in 1st grade and older are invited to be dismissed from Sunday 10 a.m. Mass after the Opening Prayer and go to Gara Hall where they will have the opportunity to listen to the Sunday readings at an age-appropriate level as part of our Children’s Liturgy of the Word. Children return just before the Liturgy of the Eucharist to continue to participate in Mass.

Preschool Sunday School and Children’s Liturgy of the Word are considered “drop-in” programs and no registration is required. Currently, they run on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of the month.

High School Youth Nites All high school youth are welcome to these semi-monthly gatherings of FAITH, FELLOWSHIP, and FUN. They occur every 2nd and 4th Wednesday nights (except holidays), 7:00—8:30 p.m. in Gara Hall. Upcoming: May 8!

Confirmation Program Year 2 Session & Mass: May 4, 4:00 p.m. in Gara Hall

Year 1 Session & Mass: May 11, 4:00 p.m. in Gara Hall

MINISTRY NEWS & UPDATES 5

Youth Ministry

Children’s Ministries

Bulletin Deadlines

Articles for inclusion in the bulletin must be emailed to bulletin@st-rita.org ten days before desired publication date.

Bulletin issue: Submit blurbs by:

May 19 Thursday, May 9 May 26 Thursday, May 16

Thank you for your cooperation!

Job Opening

St. Rita Parish is seeking a part-time weekend custodian. Ability to perform required custodial/maintenance tasks and responsibilities. Capable of performing physical labor, including lifting up to 50 pounds. Able to understand and carry out oral and written instruction in English. Handyman experience preferred. Position available immediately.

For more information: Mara Chimenti

(626) 355-1292 x232 mara@st-rita.org

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS NOW FOR THE 2019-2020 SCHOOL YEAR, GRADES TK-8

Instruction focuses on faith development and academic excellence. Students forge life-long friendships through their academics, sports and multiple enrichment opportunities. Teachers create and foster learning environments where all children are challenged to utilize a variety of innovative problem solving and analytical skills to become 21st century leaders of our church and society at large. Schedule a tour to learn more!

(626) 355-6114

“A Catholic Education is an Advantage for Life”

You pray for the hungry. Then you feed them.

This is how prayer works.

—Pope Francis

The St. Rita Parish Community congratulates the following people who completed their RCIA journey during this Easter season:

STEPHANIE COYNE

JILLIAN FORNEY ELISABETH TRONCALE

ARIANE LOERA MADELINE ROSE

STEPHANIE MURPHY

We welcome you with open arms!

Feed My Sheep

Thank You It is truly impossible to thank everyone who contributed to the beautiful and reverent celebration of the paschal liturgical mysteries of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, the Holy Saturday Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday morning. To our Celebrants, Deacons, Acolyte - thank you. To our Music Ministers, Lectors, Ministers of the Eucharist, Sacristans, Altar Servers, Ushers, Ministers of Liturgical Environment - thank you. To our Maintenance Crew, Porters, and all our hardworking parish staff - thank you. To these, and to all who voluntarily contributed untold hours to our Holy Week celebrations, THANK YOU.

Love & blessings to you all. Pax.

ST. RITA CATHOLIC FAITH COMMUNITY 3rd Sunday of Easter • May 5, 2019

This Week at St. RitaThis Week at St. RitaThis Week at St. Rita

This Sunday, May 5 — Hospitality Join us for coffee and donuts in Gara Hall after all the Masses,

sponsored by CLIMB and the Prayer Shawl Ministry.

Wednesday, May 8 — Bible Study 7:00 p.m. ● Parish Office Meeting Room

We will continue our study of Colossians, Chapter 3.

Friday, May 10 — St. Rita Guild Meeting 9:00 a.m. ● Parish Office Meeting Room

All ladies of the parish are welcome to attend.

Saturday, May 11 First Communion Mass — Faith Formation Program

10:00 a.m. ● in the Church

Save the DateSave the DateSave the Date

Monday, May 13 — Adult Faith Formation 7:00—9:00 p.m. ● O’Malley Hall

Fr. Tom will speak about the Sacrament of Confirmation. See page 3 for more information.

Wednesday, May 22 — St. Rita Feast Day

Celebrate our Patroness with festivities throughout the day, including morning Mass, Blessings with the Relic of St. Rita,

and evening Adoration & Benediction. Watch upcoming bulletins for more information and complete schedule.

Monday, May 27 — Memorial Day

Community Prayer Service 11:00 a.m. ● Pioneer Cemetery, Sierra Madre

Parish offices will be closed. Watch future bulletins for more information.

Saturday, June 1 — Sacrament of Confirmation

5:30 p.m. ● in the Church

When One Door Closes: A Day of Recollection for People in Transition—Saturday, June 8. Changing circumstances: loss, death, divorce, sickness, new job, retirement, empty nest… in ten thousand ways, our losses point us towards spiritual principles of transformation amid ever greater freedom. Join John McAndrew, MA, MDiv as we consider the spiritual resources at hand for this next phase of our growth & development. The day offers presentations, encouragement, sharing, reflection and prayer. Early enrollment encouraged. 8:30 a.m.—4:00 p.m. $60 (includes lunch). Mary & Joseph Retreat Center, 5300 Crest Road, Rancho Palos Verdes, 90275.

Information: Marlene Velazquez ● (310) 377-4867 x 234 www.maryjoseph.org Mass & Healing Service—Thursday, May 16. Fr. Thomas Sunil celebrates this Mass, sponsored by the Apostles of Divine Mercy of the San Fernando Valley. 6:30 p.m. Our Lady of Grace Church, 5011 White Oak Ave., Encino, 91316.

Information: Claudia Blache ● (818) 342-6626

Catholic Community & Local Events

6 DATES, EVENTS, AND STEWARDSHIP

You can leave a lasting legacy to St. Rita!

We are so grateful for each and every one of our supporters through the years! You can create a bigger impact than you may have ever thought possible simply by thinking ahead and making a commitment to provide long-term support to St. Rita’s Church.

As you create or refine a plan to protect and provide for your family, please remember that you can include a gift to St. Rita’s that will continue to be a spiritual home for your family for years to come, and carry on a lasting legacy of your values.

Making a gift is easier than you may think. Depending on the gift arrangement that you choose, you can:

∗ Feel secure about the future of your loved ones. ∗ Maintain control of your assets for life. ∗ Receive tax benefits. ∗ Give more than you ever thought possible.

You can make sure St. Rita continues to receive the support needed far into the future. If you are interested in exploring a planned gift, please contact Mara Chimenti, in the Parish office at (626) 355-1292 x232. If, in the course of your planning, you have already honored St. Rita through a planned gift, we would appreciate hearing from you.

ST. RITA OF CASCIA CATHOLIC FAITH COMMUNITY 7 The Feast Day of St. Rita of Cascia, our patroness, is coming up later this month. Become more acquainted with her story here, and watch future bulletins for Feast Day Details!

Daughter of Antonio and Amata Lotti, they had Rita late in life. From her early youth, Rita visited the Augustinian nuns at Cascia, Italy, and showed interest in a religious life. However, when she was twelve, her parents betrothed her to Paolo Mancini, an ill-tempered, abusive individual who worked as town watchman, and who was dragged into the political disputes of the Guelphs and Ghibellines. Disappointed but obedient, Rita married him when she was 18, and was the mother of twin sons. She put up with Paolo’s abuses for eighteen years before he was ambushed and stabbed to death. Her sons swore vengeance on the killers of their father, but through the prayers and interventions of Rita, they forgave the offenders.

Upon the deaths of her sons from the plague soon thereafter, Rita again felt the call to religious life. However, some of the sisters at the Augustinian monastery were relatives of her husband’s murderers, and

she was denied entry for fear of causing dissension. Asking for the intervention of the saints, she managed to bring the warring factions together, not completely, but sufficiently that there was peace, and she was admitted to the Monastery of St. Mary Magdalen at age 36.

Rita lived 40 years in the convent, spending her time in prayer and charity, and working for peace in the region. She was devoted to the Passion, and in response to a prayer to suffer as Christ, she received a chronic head wound that appeared to have been caused by a crown of thorns, and which bled for 15 years.

Confined to her bed the last four years of her life, eating little more than the Eucharist, teaching and directing the younger sisters. Near the end she had a visitor from her home town who asked if she’d like anything; Rita’s only request was a rose from her family’s estate. The visitor went to the home, but it being January, knew there was no hope of finding a flower; there, sprouted on an otherwise bare bush, was a single rose blossom.

Rita is well-known as a patron of desperate, seemingly impossible causes and situations. This is because she has been involved in so many stages of life – wife, mother, widow, and nun, she buried her family, helped bring peace to her city, saw her dreams denied and fulfilled – and never lost her faith in God, or her desire to be with Him.