APRIL 18, RD SUNDAY OF EASTER

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APRIL 18, 2021

♦

3RD SUNDAY OF EASTER

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Dear Faith Family of Our Lady of Grace,

Christ is risen…He is indeed risen!

Happy Easter!

Isn’t it interes ng that, right in the middle of this season of Easter joy, the church focuses our a en on on the

suﬀering of the messiah? The prophets announced long ago that God’s messiah would suﬀer; “it is wri en that

the messiah must suﬀer; Christ had to suﬀer.” Jesus’ followers never have been able to come to terms fully

with the idea of redemp on through suﬀering. Surely suﬀering cannot be good, cannot be God’s desire for us!

Jesus, however, turned suﬀering into a posi ve force, buying redemp on with the single coin that has

suﬀer-ing and death on one side and resurrec on on the other.

The amount of suﬀering in our world is staggering. Apart from the suﬀering that comes naturally with life,

there is the suﬀering we inflict on ourselves through injus ce, violence and war. The suﬀering of Jesus

con nues in our day, and we s ll have diﬃculty seeing its vic ms as our redeemers. The U.S. Bishops in their

document en tled Economic Jus ce for All states, “Jesus takes the side of those most in need, physically and

spiritually. The example of Jesus poses a number of challenges to the contemporary Church. ... Most radically,

it calls for an emptying of self, both individually and corporately, that allows the Church to experience the

power of God in the midst of poverty and powerlessness” (52).

What can we do to heed the invita on of Jesus to alleviate the suﬀering in our world? From the Gospel of

to-day we are also faced with a reality and a challenge “But they were startled and terrified.” Why did the

disci-ples go from being terrified to experiencing unconceivable joy? Would you be terrified if you saw a ghost?

Would you be ecsta c if you could see for the first me that there was life a er death?

Jesus realizes that the Apostles are unse led in seeing him, that they are bewildered because the reality of the

Resurrec on is inconceivable to them. They believe they are seeing a spirit— he shows them his wounds. “And

since this did not seem enough to overcome the disciples’ disbelief—the Gospel says something interes ng:

there was so much joy they had within that this joy prevented them from believing it: “No, it cannot be! It

can-not be so! So much joy is can-not possible!” And Jesus, in order to convince them, asks, “have you anything here to

eat?” (Luke 24:41). They oﬀer him some broiled fish; Jesus takes and eats it in front of them, in order to

con-vince them. (Pope Francis, Regina Caeli, April 15, 2018, paragraph 2)

What was the disciples’ task, having recognized the risen Lord, and having seen that he “opened their minds to

understand the scripture,”? Is our task now to preach the good news of God’s forgiveness to all na ons? How

can we do that globally? What about locally or in our neighborhoods?

Have a great week!

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Querida Familia Fe de Nuestra Señora de Gracia,

Cristo ha Resucitado... ¡Resucito! ¡Felices Pascuas!

¿No es interesante que, justo en medio de esta época de alegría pascual, la iglesia centre nuestra atención en el sufrimiento del mesías? Los profetas anunciaron hace mucho empo que el mesías de Dios sufriría; "está escrito que el mesías debe sufrir; Cristo tuvo que sufrir." Los seguidores de Jesús nunca han sido capaces de llegar a un acuerdo plenamente con la idea de redención a través del sufrimiento. ¡Ciertamente el sufrimiento no puede ser bueno, no puede ser el deseo de Dios por nosotros! Jesús, sin embargo, convir ó el sufrimiento en una fuerza posi va, comprando la redención con la única moneda que ene sufrimiento y muerte por un lado y resurrec-ción por el otro.

La can dad de sufrimiento en nuestro mundo es asombrosa. Aparte del sufrimiento que viene naturalmente con la vida, está el sufrimiento que nos infligimos a nosotros mismos a través de la injus cia, la violencia y la guerra. El sufrimiento de Jesús con núa en nuestros días, y todavía tenemos dificultades para ver a sus víc mas como nuestros redentores. Los obispos estadounidenses en su documento tulado Jus cia económica para todos los estados, "Jesús toma el lado de los más necesitados, sica y espiritualmente. El ejemplo de Jesús plantea una serie de desa os a la Iglesia contemporánea. ... [M]ost radicalmente, pide un vaciado de sí mismo, tanto indivi-dual como corpora vamente, que permita a la Iglesia experimentar el poder de Dios en medio de la pobreza y la impotencia" (52).

¿Qué podemos hacer para hacer caso a la invitación de Jesús de aliviar el sufrimiento en nuestro mundo? Desde el Evangelio de hoy también nos enfrentamos a una realidad y a un desa o: "Pero estaban sorprendidos y ate-rrorizados". ¿Por qué pasaron los discípulos de estar aterrorizados a experimentar gozo inconcebible? ¿Estarías aterrorizado si vieras un fantasma? ¿Estarías extasiado si pudieras ver por primera vez que había vida después de la muerte?

Jesús se da cuenta de que los Apóstoles están inquietos al verlo, que están desconcertados porque la realidad de la Resurrección es inconcebible para ellos. Creen que están viendo un espíritu, él les muestra sus heridas. "Y co-mo esto no parecía suficiente para superar la incredulidad de los discípulos, el Evangelio dice algo interesante: había tanta alegría que tenían dentro que ese gozo les impedía creerlo: "¡No, no puede ser! ¡No puede ser así! ¡Tanta alegría no es posible!" Y Jesús, para convencerlos, pregunta: "¿Tienes algo aquí para comer?" (Lucas 24:41). Le ofrecen algunos peces asados; Jesús lo toma y se lo come delante de ellos, con el fin deconvencerlos. (Papa Francisco, Regina Caeli, 15 de abril de 2018, apartado 2)

¿Cuál era la tarea de los discípulos, haber reconocido al Señor resucitado y haber visto que él "abrió sus mentes para entender las Escrituras"? ¿Es nuestra tarea ahora predicar la buena no cia del perdón de Dios a todas las naciones? ¿Cómo podemos hacerlo a nivel mundial? ¿Qué hay de local o en nuestros vecindarios?

¡Que tenga una semana llena de bendiciones de Pascua!

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PRAY FOR OUR RCIA PARTICIPANTS THAT

HAVE JUST BEEN RECEIVED

Catechumens:

Candalyn Janolo

MaƩhew OrƟz

Candidates:

Wendy Caskey

Tania Perez

Cofirmandi:

Jaime Rodriguez

We at Our Lady of Grace, the parish, as the Church, have a part in this Rite.

We are asked to warmly welcome these catechumens and candidates into

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indoor Masses during Holy

Week will be subject to

space capacity. For those

that choose to watch us

online, please tune to our

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@OurLadyofGraceEncino.

Or you may also tune in from

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DID YOU KNOW? APRIL 17-18 2021

The Archdiocese continues to help survivors of sexual abuse and their

families

During National Child Abuse Prevention Month, and on behalf of Archbishop José H. Gomez, we affirm our continued commitment to report allegations of sexual misconduct to law enforcement, support victim-survivors in their healing journey, and protect children and the vulnerable. The Archdiocese created a website, https://protect.la-archdiocese.org/ that serves as a comprehensive tool containing resources, programs and services for protecting children and reporting abuse. If you, or someone you know, is a victim of sexual misconduct by someone affiliated with our Church, please contact law enforcement and the Archdiocese’s Victims Assistance Coordinator at (213) 637-7650 or visit https:// lacatholics.org/reporting-child-abuse/ for help and support. In addition, Arch-bishop Gomez invites you to join him and many across the Archdiocese to the Novena for Protecting and Healing from Abuse, April 22-30. To join please vis-it https://lacatholics.org/unvis-ited-together/.

La Arquidiócesis continúa ayudando a sobrevivientes de abuso

sexual y a sus familias

Durante el Mes Nacional de Prevención del Abuso Infantil, y en nombre del Ar-zobispo José H. Gomez, afirmamos nuestro compromiso continuo de reportar las denuncias de conducta sexual inapropiada a las autoridades policiales, de apoyar a las víctimas sobrevivientes en su jornada de sanación y de proteger a los niños y a los vulnerables. La Arquidiócesis creó un sitio web, https://

protect.la-archdiocese.org/, que sirve como una herramienta integral que con-tiene recursos, programas y servicios para proteger a los niños y denunciar abusos. Si usted, o alguien que usted conoce, es víctima de conducta sexual inapropiada por parte de alguien afiliado a nuestra Iglesia, comuníquese con las autoridades policiales y con la Coordinadora de Asistencia a las Víctimas de la Arquidiócesis al (213) 637-7650 o visite https://lacatholics.org/reporting-child-abuse/ para ayuda y apoyo. Además, el Arzobispo Gomez les invita a unirse a él y a muchos en toda la Arquidiócesis a la Novena para la Protección y la Sanación del Abuso, del 22 al 30 de abril. Para unirse, visite https:// lacatholics.org/united-together/.

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Monday, April 19, 2021

First: Acts 6:8-15

Psalm: 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30

Gospel: Jn 6:22-29

Tuesday, April 20, 2021:

First: Acts 7:51—8:1a

Psalm:31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab Gospel: Jn 6:30-35

Wednesday, April 21, 2021:

First: Acts 8:1b-8 Psalm: 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a

Gospel: Jn 6:35-40 Thursday, April 22, 2021 First: Acts 8:26-40 Psalm: 66:8-9, 16-17, 20 Gospel: Jn 6:44-51 Friday, April 23, 2021

First: Acts Acts 9:1-20

Psalm: 117:1bc, 2 Gospel:Jn 6:52-59 Saturday, April 24, 2021 First: Acts 9:31-42 Psalm: 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17 Gospel: Jn 6:60-69 Veronica Pomposa Pablo Godinez Claire Mansour Mercedes Echegoyen Jeﬀ Kinzli Aidan Bradley Dawn Hopkins Imelda Clark Phillip Ribas Dolores Casper Jose & Helen (YB) Allison Arahkn Franklin Moya Mariano Velazquez Susan Morales Paula Aguilar Ed Ricard Gary Thomas Patricia Branagan Phyllis Richardson Harolyn Ma soﬀ Pat Borland Rita Gen le Julie Sianzon Yolanda Aburto Nelson Aburto Karo Dylanian Shereen Peer Michael Peer Grace Cihanowiz Renee Harbour Ma. Josefa Lopez Angela Rostani Stephanie Rivas Angela Berry Debbie Lane Tony Mammo Tonya Fuentes Fuentes Family Mejia Family Fr. Tom Feltz Jasmin Reyes Jose Reyes Jr. Anne Nicholson Chrystal Pritchard Raymond Fabre Brianna Mantallana Jolli Sisante Liz Knight Lidia Jimenez Samantha Ramirez Corzo Family Bobby S llman Rubén Salagubang Jeannie Arigei

PRAYER REQUEST FOR OUR BELOVED SICK

U.S. Navy Andres L. Aguilera Jamila Habibullah Jake Schneider Emily Pomposo Jordan Arteaga Jeﬀrey Quintero U.S. Air Force Fernando Aguilera Marco Flores Jorje Godina Steve Hyath

U.S. Marine Corps Manuel Arteaga David Arnold Christopher Castillo Andrew Barragan Monica Pagan Isaac Pezqueda George Moreno Jr. Joshua Walton U.S. Army Nicholas Lombard Heather Scheibe Pomer-antz Brian Pomerantz Corey Raby Vincent Sanwo Ron Clemente Anthony Villwock George Moreno Phillip Ribas Marc A. Monreal Helen Ballestas U.S. Coast Guard David Scates

(LAFD) Brian Page

PRAYER REQUEST FOR OUR MILITARY MEN & WOMEN

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY

Daily Mass Readings

Lecturas de la Semana

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The University Series wishes to

thank the Our Lady of Grace

par-ish team for a faith-filled,

success-ful virtual season:

Firstly, to Fr. Marinello Saguin

whose visionary leadership and unflagging energy

garnered support for this year’s series. Secondly, to

Shoshana Cuevas, who stepped in and actually

hosted many virtual presentations. Thirdly, to Anisha

Virgen, who was part of the core team, for providing

the commitment from the first planning meetings and

continuing to establish the OLG framework for future

seasons; to Leslie Reyes & Jill Moore for promptly

broadcasting updates and the rest of the supportive

OLG parish staff. Last but not least, thank you to all

the parishioners of OLG who support our mission.

The 2021 Season marked our 20th Anniversary,

with 9,000 virtual participants. As we go forward,

may God watch over us until we can meet together,

connecting our faith with daily life during this

chal-lenging yet blessed time.

Bob Jordan, President

Diana Johnson, Secretary

Mass Schedule /

Horario de Misas

Sunday / Domingo:

8:00am, 9:30am, 11:00 am (Spanish)

Saturday / Sabado:

8:00 am and 4:00 pm (Vigil Mass)

Weekdays: / Misa Matutina:

8:00 am (Parish Center)

Eucharistic Adoration /

Adoracion Eucaristica

Every Friday:

Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament

after 8:00 am Mass

(Parish Center Courtyard)

Sacrament of Penance /

Confesiones

(Christmas & Lent times may change)

Friday: 5:00 pm to 6:00 pm Saturday: 9:00 am to 10:00 am

Contact the Parish Center to arrange for: Baptism ♦ Marriages ♦ Visits to the Sick ♦

Re-ligious Education

♦ New Parishioner Registrations Parish Office Hours /

Horario de Oficina

Monday - Friday 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

(Closed for lunch: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm)

Saturdays & Sundays: Closed

Sabado y Domingo: Cerrado

3rd Sunday of Easter

First Reading: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19 Responsorial Psalm: 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 Second Reading: 1 Jn 2:1-5a Gospel: Lk 24:35-48