A Message to the People of God Concerning the Coronavirus Epidemic
​Archbishop Salvatore Cordilone

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​Good evening, everyone,
We normally associate fasting with eating less food. But we can also fast from anything else. We fast from television, music, internet, chocolate, wine, smoking or even gossip. By giving these up, which are not by themselves bad, we are telling God that our priority is to be alone with Him; that we have our hierarch of values in the right order, God, first before anything else.  So, what kind of fasting do you exercise during this season of Lent? Does it make you feel closer to God and  bring joy to others?
 
Happy Birthday
Last Sunday, March 6, Daniela Maramonte, daughter of Antonio & Mirna Maramonte turned 17. It seems that she skipped two years. I remember her as a fourteen-year-old girl preparing for quincenearas. It was to be a big one, like that of her older sister Isabela, but then COVID-19 which was just starting then got worse, and "lockdown" became the byword. So the celebration was postponed and now she is 17. It means that we have been living with the coronavirus for 2 years. 
 
Update on Confirmation Program for Adults
As of today, we have seven (7) who have expressed interest to enroll in the adult confirmation program. That's a very good number! Again, this program is open to all baptized adults (18 and above) who have not yet been confirmed. Online classes start next Friday, March 11 (6PM - 7PM), for five consecutive Fridays. The candidates will be confirmed at the Easter Vigil Mass on April 16, 8PM. To enroll, kindly submit baptismal certificate to the office not later than March 9.
 
Improving and Updating our Parish Website
We are working on it!
 
The Search Continues
The search for the oldest active parishioner continues. I missed to mention Mary Ekstron in my last posting. She is close to 95 years old, and has been a regular presence at the 4:30 PM Saturday mass. But since the pandemic, she hasn't been back. Heraldo and Pamela Rojas bring her communion on weekends. If you know anyone who is in her 90's or even late 80's, who still come regularly to Sunday mass, kindly let us know.  
 

 
Meet Lourdes Serrato. She's a mother of three: Miguel Angel, a marine; Maria Guadalupe;  and Lourdes. Lourdes teaches 3rd grade in the Spanish CCD program, serves as a wedding mass coordinator, and sometimes, leads the singing at Spanish masses. She comes to the office every working day (Tuesday-Saturday). Thank to her understanding and supportive husband Miguel.
 

Lourdes Serrato in Mexican ethnic attire.
 
Meet Victoria Law.  She came to the daily morning mass without fail, sitting in the front pew. A few minutes before mass starts, she would walk up to the altar and light the candles; after mass, she would promptly snuff them off. That was all she did, but she was faithful. Then came the coronavirus and she hasn't been back to church. She would call and visit me every now and then. Last Wednesday, she came lugging a shopping bag. Inside was a box of cookies for me, and a red envelope, her Chinese New Year gift to me! She looked good and healthy, but she told me that she hasn't been as before. She said that for her first 30 years in USA, immigrating from Hongkong, she never got sick, not even cold. But now, she feels a lot weaker and she has become forgetful. Well, she's already 83 years old. She told me that her son Joseph Tsang, an only child, passed away in January of liver cancer. He was only 56 years old. Though married, he didn't leave a child behind. I was shocked to hear it. So I asked if she has any family left here in the US. She said that she has two sisters: one who lives in the Sunset District and is named Yiang Law. The other sister lives in Piedmont, and is number 9. , I wasn't sure if heard her right but I assumed that there is a total of i siblings, and that number 9 must be youngest. She said, yes, but also "Number 9" is the real name, not only an indicator of her rank of oldest to youngest. Interesting.  She said that only she and two others sisters who live in Hongkong; number 5 & 6 (No, that's their real name, but she can' remember them anymore, so this time goes according to the birth order.  Kindly include Victoria in your prayers.

Bilingual Stations of the Cross
It starts on Friday, March 11, at 6PM at the church. Calling on altar servers to serve, and lectors to read. Thanks.
 
 
Surprise! Surprise!
We announced that JS Paluch has stopped printing our bulletin due to financial constraints. But just a few minutes ago, FedEx delivered the latest issue. Hmm! Maybe a change of knd? At any rate, thank you.
 
Erratum
It's mardi gras, not mardis gras! Apologies!
 
Let's continue to pray for Ukraine!
 
Good night!
 
Fr. Michael
 

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Parish Volunteers
Meet Maria Haro. She has three beautiful daughters who are all good dancers like her. They are: Karla,  teacher; Caroleen; and Andrea. Maria serves as an officer-in-charge (OIC) of the catechists in the the Spanish CCD program. Her work includes arranging classes, contacting parents, checking on documents, etc. She reports to the office almost every working day (Tuesday-Saturday). Thanks to husband Miguel for his support and understanding. 

Maria Haro at her desk.

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