TRACES OF GRACE
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Dear Fellow Parishioners,

Oh no! My toes are tapping and I am beginning to sway like a palm tree to Jamaican music...well, ok, like a big palm tree! Fr. Richard Ho Lung, MOP (Missionaries of the Poor) along with two of his music ministers is returning this coming weekend for our liturgies at St. Edward the Confessor. As many of you know, Fr. Richard founded the Missionaries of the Poor as a spiritual response to the crushing poverty surrounding him in Jamaica. From there the Holy Spirit led him send brothers and priests to other places of poverty in Uganda, Haiti, India as well as the Philippines where they are currently active in living the Gospel commission to be servants to those most in need.

Several members of our parish community have worked in Haiti alongside the brothers. As challenging as the ministry is, especially to those of us who live in a first world society, it becomes a retreat experience because the work is so infested with faith. I had the privilege a few years ago to be with Al and Linda Scaduto of our parish as we worked together with the Brothers taking care of abandoned children, disabled elderly and AIDS patients. Some of us are looking at returning there again this summer.

This time, Fr. Richard will join us for several days. On Friday morning, March 19 he will celebrate the Mass with our parish school children. On Friday evening as well as Saturday, he will lead us in a Lenten retreat. It will begin Friday evening after Mass and continue on Saturday from 9am to 3pm. (Lunch included!) You are most welcome to attend! Please check the bulletin flyer for more information. Lent is all about conversion to become closer to the heart of Jesus and I trust that this retreat experience from Fr. Ho Lung’s rich reflections, music and meditations will do just that.

Fr. Richard will also be preaching at all the Masses on the weekend as well. While he is preaching for the sake of the missions (remember almsgiving is a part of the Lenten missive), his lively preaching along with the Jamaican musicians and singers will add some hopeful energy on Laetare Sunday which is customarily seen as a Lenten 'break'. Your generosity is most appreciated!

Together in Christ,

Fr. Steve
Pastor

Visit the Traces Of Grace Archive to read past announcements.

How Can I Help the People in Haiti?

Update: Generous contributions from Catholics across the country to Catholic Relief Services are helping thousands of Haitians after the devastating earthquake on January 12th. CRS has provided food and other emergency supplies to more than 90,000 people through two large sites and parish distribution sites across Port-au-Prince. CRS medical teams are treating 300 per day. For more information on CRS relief efforts in Haiti as well as prayer resources, educational resources, and information on how you can help with the long-term rebuilding process, go to www.crs.org.

Also, we will be continuing to accept donations for several weeks for disaster relief in Haiti. If you would still like to do so by bringing your gift to the parish office in an envelope marked ‘Haiti Relief’ or on Sunday in our regular collection. We are sending everything through Catholic Relief Services at this time.

Lenten Information
Lenten Calendar of Events
Every Wednesday during Lent the school will have the Living Stations of the Cross at 2pm. Every Friday during Lent, at 8:30am, Soul Walk with Donna Couch at Doheny State Park. Every Friday during Lent Stations of the Cross will be said in the Church following the 5:30pm Mass and then Soup will be served at Knight Hall.

March 19th - Stations and Soup Knight Hall
Pre School

March 26th - Stations and Soup Lower Lunch Room
Stations - 8th graders
Soup - Religion Committee

Deanery Penance Service
Wednesday, March 24, 7pm. Mission San Juan

Individual Confessions
Saturday, March 27, 9:00-10:30am, 3:00-5:00pm
Tuesday, March 30, 9:00-10:30am
Wednesday, March 31, 7pm
No scheduled confessions during the Triduum

Weekly Parish Calendar - Week of March 14, 2009

Monday March 15th
8:45 am Adoration in Church

Tuesday March 16th
6:00 pm Blue Army, Church

Wednesday March 17th
12:45 am Family of Nazareth, Church Cry Room
2:00 pm Living Stations, Church

Friday March 19th
8:30 am Soul Walk, Doheny Beach
5:30 pm Mass followed by Stations and Soup in Knight Hall

Weekly Scripture Readings

Monday: Isaiah 65:17-21; John 4:43-54
Tuesday: Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12; John 5:1-16
Wednesday: Isaiah 49:8-15; John 5:17-30
Thursday: Exodus 32:7-14; John 5:31-47
Friday: 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a, 16; Matthew 1:16, 18-21,24a
Saturday: Jeremiah 11:18-20; John 7:40-53
Sunday: Isaiah 43:16-21; Philippians 3:8-14; John 8:1-11

Servants of the Word
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
Resolve to learn more about Sacred Scripture in 2010. A new Catholic Bible Study, First Corinthians, has started and runs through March 23, 2010. We'll learn about St. Paul's message to the Corinthians: the nature of grace, the Church as the Body of Christ, and the most powerful - the Eucharist! Join us for Mass at 8:15, followed by light fare, DVD lecture with Dr. Tim Gray, prayer, small group discussion, and fellowship. For more information, see the blue flyer in the Church information window.

SERENITY DAY
Tuesday, Feb. 16. Begin Lent 2010 with us, and Father Steve Sallot, as our retreat leader. It will be a quiet spirit-filled morning beginning with Mass at 8:15, followed by fellowship, light fare, prayer, reflection, and talks by Father Steve. Everyone is welcome. For reservations, please call Elizabeth Smith at 949-837-2141. More information is available in the Church display case.

Women of Wisdom
We have resumed meetings for the new year. We meet on Wednesdays from 9:30-11:30am in Knight Hall.

Women of Wisdom is committed to encouraging women of all ages to grow spiritually, emotionally, and in relationships. We explore our Christian lives in discussion and will use "7 Essentials for the Spiritual Journey", by Dolores R. Leckey, Executive Director with The National Conference of Catholic Bishops as our guide. The books will be available at the first meeting. Shirley Filadelfia is the facilitator and welcomes all who would like to join us.

St. Anne's Circle
SAC is the mothers' ministry at St. Edward. We would love to offer you fun, faith, and friendship with Catholic women called to the awesome role of MOM!

Are you a new mother or an experienced mom looking to connect with other Catholic moms? Our SAC activities are a great way to meet new moms, and everyone is welcome!

Wednesdays - Park Day
Park Day - 10:30am - 1:00pm.
We meet at Dana Crest Park in Dana Point.

Mother's Program - Monthly Meeting
Friday, March 12th at 9am in Knight Hall. Drop-ins welcome!

For more information about St. Anne's Circle (SAC), contact Christina (cheal@cox.net).

Have Questions?

Please feel free to email the web editor or call at (949) 481-4000.