January 2018

WELCOME TO 2018
May we continue to be open and receptive to the companionship of the Lord in all our activities during this New Year. May the Lord bless us in our individual needs, in the needs of our Church, in the needs of our country, and our world through all the opportunities and daunting needs and challenges confronting us.

WHAT’S NEW FOR OUR PARISH IN 2018….
Our parish is moving into its 60th Jubilee anniversary year on May 10th. OMOS was established as the farthest eastside parish in the city on May 10, 1958. The following Jubilee committee is meeting on a monthly basis planning the Jubilee Year activities. The Jubilee anniversary committee roster is as follows: Msgr. Tom, Aida Samuel & George Gewehr (co-chairs), Cindy Phillips, Ed Ackerley, Erin Vu, Jose Merino, Jose Osuna, Laura Stehle, Lyn Bulski, Madeleine Crespo, Pam Coonan, RJ Saavedra, and Steve Contreras. A calendar of activities for the Jubilee Year is presently in process. An upcoming monthly update will have an extensive outline of the Jubilee activities.

PRAYER AND PRAYING:
Prayer and praying has been a lifeline to me as an individual and as a priest. Prayer keeps us connected with God who is the source of all blessings. The following prayers are very timely and I encourage using them on a regular basis.
 
New Year’s Blessing
O God of ancient blessing,
Your servant Mary pondered in her heart
The treasured words spoken about her Son,
Our Saviour Jesus Christ.
Bless us, as we gather in his name,
And prepare our hearts to receive his Spirit,
That our tongues may confess him Lord,
Every day of this new year,
And for ever and ever. Amen.

~ Blessings and Prayers for Home and Family
  
Prayer for Those Who Migrate*
Mary knew the weariness of the journey;
To Bethlehem, to Egypt, back to Nazareth.
She knew the weariness, the fear, the longing for home,
The need to continue moving, moving,
The longing for journey’s end,
The longing for at least a semblance of a home.
To Mary we entrust the mothers, the fathers, the children
Who today are holy families
Migrating in hope, in fear, in longing,
For peace, for some security, for something like a home.
May they find their journey’s end
As we open ourselves to their stories,
Their need, their spirits;
We ask for mercy for all migrants
And for our communities
Who are challenged to welcome them,
To hold up hope for a new beginning.

~Jane Deren, Education for Justice
*January 14 is World Day of Migrants and Refugees
  
A Prayer for Life
Father and maker of all,
You adorn all creation
With splendor and beauty,
And fashion human lives
In your image and likeness.
Awaken in every heart
Reverence for the work of your hands,
And renew among your people
a readiness to nurture and sustain
Your precious gift of life.
Grant this through our Lord
Jesus Christ, your Son,
Who lives and resigns with you in
The unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, forever and ever. Amen.

~Catholic Household Blessings & Prayers

Stewardship Prayer: I Am
My parish is composed of people like me.
I help make it what it is.
It will be friendly, if I am.
It will be holy, if I am.
Its pews will be filled, if I help fill them.
It will do great work, if I work.
It will be prayerful, if I pray.
It will make generous gifts to many causes,
if I am a generous giver.
It will bring others into worship,
if I invite and bring them.
It will be a parish of loyalty and love,
of fearlessness and faith,
Of compassion, charity and mercy,
If I, who make it what it is, am filled with these same things.
Therefore, with the help of God,
I now dedicate myself to the task of being all the things that I want my parish to be.

~Author Unknown
 
THREE R’s FIRST PHASE PROJECTS
During these past months, five of our nine free-standing buildings have had their roofs either replaced or repaired. During the summer months, a major part of our 3R’s projects will be taking place within the church. In mid-May, the weekend Masses will transfer to the Hall during the duration of the upgrades within the church space. The church floor will be re-tiled and re-carpeted. The new pews will be installed. The church restrooms will be remodeled and made handicap accessible. Glass doors will be installed in both entry ways from the vestibule. The statues of Mary and Joseph will be relocated from the back of the church to new shrine areas on either side of the sanctuary space. Shrine areas in the back of the church will feature Our Lady of Guadalupe, St. John XXIII, and St. Teresa of Calcutta. All of this work is being underwritten through the 3R’s campaign maturing pledges. Thanks to all who are turning in their pledge payments faithfully.

WE ARE SEEING REALITY THROUGH THE EYES OF EIGHTH-GRADERS
Our school involves our junior high students in justice exercises through what is known as Justice Monday. Recently they had a field trip to Casa Maria, the Catholic Worker House, where the hungry homeless are fed. It happened to be the second Monday morning of the month when I do an outdoor Mass at Casa Maria and they were participants. Afterwards, their Justice Monday field trip took them to Holy Hope Catholic Cemetery. The following is a sampling of reflections from the students. I find their witness very refreshing and telling.

Yesterday, I visited Casa Maria. It was a heart-breaking experience because it was sad that so many people weren't able to live independently. During Mass they were so enthusiastic.
Kaylee D.
 
Yesterday I went to Casa Maria. At Casa Maria we gave the people our lunches that we made for them. We also had Mass with them outside. It was very wonderful to see all of their wonderful, happy faces when they were singing the songs at Mass. I can’t wait to go back soon. It was a very important day that happened to me. It increased my faith very much!
Jordan F.

Yesterday I went to Holy Hope Cemetery for our Justice Monday field trip. The first thing I felt as I got onto the bus was how I am going to really dislike going to a cemetery, but as the day went on it was much more than just going to it because I simply have to. I learned that people have lost loved ones that they deeply loved and yet they still go on with their lives serving God. I can’t even imagine losing anyone I love. I saw markers that have beautiful flowers and decorations with nicely polished stones, but I also saw some that had nothing but a name and date, dusty, with no decorations. I felt sad that their lives are now a memory and how families have to deal without their loved ones. This experience made me appreciate my family much more.
Bria M.
 
When I went to the cemetery I felt bad. When I saw all the graves of the children, I thought, “Not fair! Why did they have to go so early and lose their family?” It was hard to see all the graves and very heart breaking. I said a prayer in my head whenever I cleaned a grave out of respect. I want to say it helped me understand what it felt like to lose someone and not get them back. I would like to pray for the deceased that they find their path to God.
Kaedo L.

That a grade school and parish can impact and help so many people through everyday of life. I now really get why Mrs. Stehle asks for food to give back to the people in need. Thank you for letting us have this great opportunity.
Hannah T.

Yesterday we went to Holy Hope Cemetery and in my personal experience I felt very pained in my heart knowing that there were thousands of bodies under my feet, especially after going to the section of children who had died. I feel very grateful that I am still on this earth. This experience made me realize that every day, every minute, every second, may be our last so we should live out our lives the way we have always imagined/dreamed. Now after, I have really thought about the meaning of life and now in my soul I believe that it is to love people while they are here and learn to let them to go live eternally with Jesus.
Meghan M.

PRAYING FOR PEACE…BY FR. JAMES MARTIN
The most well-known prayer for peace may be the Prayer of St. Francis, which begins, “Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.” It’s attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, but it is the work of an anonymous French writer who published it in 1912. St. Francis’ non-authorship shouldn’t deter us from the underlying goal of the prayer, which is peace.

What does it mean to pray for peace? First, it means to beg God to bring peace to warring countries, into troubled regions, and in the midst of tense interpersonal situations. Peace is at the heart of the Christian message. And the peace that Jesus envisioned – the Hebrew word shalom – is not simply a cessation of violence, but the highest good for all involved. By praying for peace, we unite ourselves with God’s desires.

Second, praying for peace means putting those hopes into action. It means becoming a reconciler – among individuals, groups, and nations, as well as with those from whom we are estranged. All this brings us into closer relationship with God, for reconciliation with God demands reconciliation with one another. And how can you be in right relationship with God if you hold a grudge against your brother and sister?

Finally, there is a prayer for inner peace. Can you allow God to enter your heart and give you calm? Can you turn over the “warring” factions within you and give them to God? In all this, trust that Jesus, the “Prince of Peace” is on your side.
 
James Martin, SJ is a Jesuit priest, editor at large at America and author of Jesus: A Pilgrimage, as well as In All Seasons, For All Reasons, essays collected from his column in Give Us This Day.

JANUARY 20TH MARCH FOR LIFE
The annual March for Life will take place Saturday, January 20th beginning at 9 am with Mass at St. Augustine Cathedral. The Tucson March for Life gathers at St. Augustine Cathedral (192 S. Stone Ave.) and proceeds to Holy Hope Cemetery (3555 N. Oracle Rd) where a special prayer service at the "Statue of Rachel" will conclude the march. For more information contact the Diocese at 520-792-3410.

Respect Life Prayer
God our Creator, we give thanks to you, who alone have the power to impart the breath of life as you form each of us in our mother’s womb; grant, we pray, that we, whom you have made stewards of creation, may remain faithful to this sacred trust and constant in safeguarding the dignity of every human life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever. Amen.

ANGEL TREE AMAZING TOTALS
​Through the generosity of our parishioners we received more Angel Tree donations than we have over the last few years:

Angel          Cause                                                   Amount
White          Haiti                                                         $1755
Yellow         Blessed Nuno Gift cards                     $  815
Blue            Merilac Lodge Gift cards                      $  370
Blue            Merilac/Reachout Women’s Center  $1936
Purple         CCS - Refugees                                     $ 648
Green         Sr. Jose Women's Shelter, TIHAN,
                   Casa Maria, Poverello House,
                   Primavera, Border Ministries                 $2271
Red            SVDP & Project Outreach                      $4902

In total we received about $12,697 in cash, gift cards and gifts. Thank you to all our parishioners who made the Angel Tree a success through their prayers and donations. Thanks, thanks, thanks a thousand times over to all who befriended the angels!
Laura Stehle

KNOW YOUR PARISH STAFF
Patsy Klein, Pastoral Care Director In overseeing the Stephen Ministry, Home Bound Ministry and the Hospital Ministry at Banner University on Ajo Way, I continue to be in awe of the daily witness that God walks this earth in the form of the person willing to answer His call to service as well as the miracle of the believers whose pain and worry, doubt and fears vanish with prayer and receiving the Body of Christ. I will never know how I came to be so blessed to be called to this service, but I will always begin and end my day in total and complete gratitude!

In good humor Patsy Klein responds to the always asked question – “No I’m not a singer. I love music but singing was not a talent the good Lord thought to give me. I was however, a teacher and dancer of Mexican folkloric dance. Family and friends know I love to enjoy chocolates and cups of hot tea. Come visit me for prayer and conversation.”

If you would like more information on the ministries Patsy oversees or is in need of pastoral care services, you can reach her at the parish office at (520) 305-3613 or pklein@omosparish.org.

A NOTE OF APPRECIATION TO SISTER JOSE WOMEN’S CENTER
I wanted to let the staff and volunteers know how much I appreciate the support and help I received while staying in the overnight program for three weeks. The smallest things can make all the difference in your life and this place made a huge difference in mines. My first day here was very hard for it was the first time I had been in a shelter. Jean and Kim were very welcoming and made the stay here worth it. I thank you all for your help and to the staff and volunteers as well. The bed and warm blankets was so comforting. The delicious dinners that were prepared for all of us women were so wonderfully made. The guests (the other women) made me feel good by letting me know they, too, have faith which only made my faith grow. Sister Jose’s Jean and Penny are wonderful women and I’m very grateful to come to this shelter. It’s a special place in my heart I’ll never forget. I stayed together here and felt safe and that’s what matters the most. Anything is possible…. Thank you to all of you at Sister Jose Women’s Center.
Yvonne D.

MID-YEAR FY17/18 PARISH INCOME REPORT
As we reach the end of 2017 and the halfway point of the fiscal year, I want to thank all our parishioners for their faithfulness and generosity in their stewardship and outreach to the ministries at Our Mother of Sorrows and our community at large. Indeed, we are all blessed! As of December 25th, our weekly average stewardship is $20,520, which is 8% above our budget of $19,000, and 2% ahead of last year at this point. Our “Yes, Lord” campaign cumulative pledge values continue to lag behind last year, however, and we are under by 5%. EFT values have increased 1.5% thanks to 27 families increasing their gifts and seven new families signing up. Thank you again, and may God continue to bless you and your loved ones.
Steve Contreras, Parish Business Manager
 
DATES TO REMEMBER

Epiphany Ministries Dinner and Dance - January 6th - 6:30 pm
Liturgical Ministers’ Convocation - January 13th - 8:30 am
Special Celtic Mass - January 13th - 5:30 pm –“Switchback Duo”
March for Life - January 20th - St. Augustine Cathedral

“Mere administration” can no longer be enough. Throughout the world, let us be “permanently in a state of mission.” ~Pope Francis