Called to Serve

Mission San Luis Rey Parish

Quarterly Newsletter | April 2012

Mark Your Calendar

4.7 Reawaken Retreat 4.9 - 4.10 - 4.11 Parish Offices Closed 4.12 Parish Office Opens 4.21 Quarterly Leaders Mtg. 5.5 Flores de Mayo 5.9 OMMS Multicultural 5.11 Night at the Mission 5.12 Motorcycle Blessing 5.13 Knights Baby Shower 5.13 Santa Rita 6.3 Confirmation Mass

Happy and Blessed Triduum and Easter

Holy Thursday, April 5th Multicultural Mass of the Lords Supper w/washing of the feet. Serra Center: 7:00 p.m. Good Friday, April 6th Morning Prayer of the Church (this replaces 7:30 a.m. Mass) Chapel: 7:30 a.m. Passion of the Lord (With OMMS Students Holy Communion.) Serra Center: 12:00 noon - 1:00 p.m. English Private Meditation and Prayer Time Serra Center: 1:00-2:30 p.m. Taize: Prayer Around the Cross Old Mission: 3:00-4:00 p.m. Via Crucis/Way of the Cross (In Spanish) Serra Gardens 5-7:30pm Multicultural Celebration of the Passion (With Holy Communion) Serra Center: 7:30 p.m.

Continued on page 2...

Gods Vindication An Easter Reflection

By Father Francis Cotter, OFM

The theologian Jurgen Moltmann states that our Christian faith begins at the exact point where atheists think it must end, in the taste of nothingness, in emptiness, in darkness.

Jesus entered our world preaching faith, love, and forgiveness but the world didn't accept that. Instead it crucified Him and, in that crucifixion, seemingly shamed His message. On the cross Jesus is taunted: If you are the son of God, come down from there! If your message is true, let God verify that right now. If you're Gods chosen, prove it! Act now!" And what was God's response to those taunts? Nothing no defense, no apologia, no commentary, just silence. Jesus died in silence, inside God's silence and inside the world's incomprehension.

Triduum/Easter Schedule Continued

Holy Saturday April 7th EASTER VIGIL AND EUCHARIST Morning Prayer of the Church (this replaces 7:30 a.m. Mass) Chapel: 7:30 a.m. Multicultural Easter Vigil Serra Center: 7:30 p.m. Easter Sunday April 8th EASTER SUNDAY Old Mission: 7:00 a.m. Serra Center: 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and (12:00 p.m. Spanish) [There will be NO 5:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m. Masses]

We can, even as believers, be scandalized by that silence. When sin and sorrow and sadness seem to triumph the painful questions rise up: Where is the resurrection in all of this? Why is God seemingly so inactive? (Continued on Page 3)

SAVE THE DATE! Our next Quarterly Leadership meeting will be Saturday, April 21st 2012.

Reflection (cont.)
God, as revealed in the death and resurrection of Jesus, doesn't meet our expectations even as He infinitely exceeds them. God's answer is always in the resurrection - in the resurrection of Jesus and in the perennial resurrection of goodness within life itself. Ghandi wrote: "When I despair, I remember that all through history, the way of truth and love has always won. There have been murderers and tyrants, and for a time they seem invincible. But in the end they always fall. Think of it always." We can live in faith, love, forgiveness, justice, and fidelity in spite of everything that suggests that they aren't true. God vindicated Jesus and will vindicate us if we remain faithful as Jesus did. However part of what's revealed here is that we need a great patience, a patience called hope. God's day will come, but God, it seems, is not in any hurry. Good and truth will always triumph, but this triumph must be waited. Eventually, as Ghandi says, always, without a single exception, good triumphs. The resurrection works. May the gift of Easter faith be revived in us. (Submitted to the newsletter by Fr. Adrian Peelo, OFM)

Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me, For You are my strength. Psalms 4:4

Old Mission News

REAWAKENING TO THE RESURRECTION STORY

Saturday, April 7 9:00am - 3:00pm

Farewell Celebration
Our parish family is invited to say farewell to Fr. Chuck. To wish him well, we will have a farewell celebration on:

with Bro. Chris Best, OFM & Pat Julian, M.A. Our Christian story, told in the Easter Vigil readings, is like no other story. Together we will break open those scriptures and rediscover their relevance for us today. Bring your Bible and Journal.

FRIDAY, APRIL 27, 2012 6:00-8:00ish P.M. SERRA CENTER GARDENS

Finger foods are in order of the eveningno eating utensils will be available. Please bring your favorites such as: mini sandwiches, deviled eggs, mini pizzas, lumpia, taquitos, mini quesadillas, cheese, fruit, veggies, egg rolls, stuffed mushrooms, cookies, brownies, etc. Dont forget to bring your favorite beverage. Save the date now and plan to join us in wishing him the very best as he moves forward in his ministry. Bring your lawn chair.

Pre-register by calling the Retreat Office at 760-757-3659.

Masses in the Old Mission (Saturdays at 7:00pm Spanish, Sundays at 7:00 a.m. English and 7:00 p.m. Spanish): Will continue to be held in the Old Mission church until early May.