PARISH NEWS
March 24, 2022
1
CONSECRATION OF UKRAINE & RUSSIA
Friday, March 25 | 12:00 PM
Pope Francis invites all Catholics to join him in an Act of Consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on the Feast of the Annunciation tomorrow, March 25, at 12:00 p.m. (noon) Eastern Time. Pope Francis will preside in St. Peter’s Basilica for the celebration of penance, at which time he will consecrate Russia and Ukraine to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, praying for the end of the war between the countries. EWTN will provide live coverage of the noon Mass from St. Peter’s. To watch the broadcast, click on the button below.
Highlights of the Prayers of the Consecration
In the text of the Pope’s prayer sent to chanceries around the globe so that bishops can join him, a key passage for many observers reads: “Mother of God and our mother, to your Immaculate Heart we solemnly entrust and consecrate ourselves, the Church and all humanity, especially Russia and Ukraine.” With Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and responding to a request particularly from Ukrainian bishops, Pope Francis had announced that he would make the act of consecration during a previously scheduled Lenten penance service in St. Peter’s Basilica. When Mary appeared to three shepherd children at Fatima in 1917 with a message encouraging prayer and repentance, she also asked for the consecration of Russia to Mary’s Immaculate Heart. While popes, especially St. John Paul II in 1984, made acts of consecration, they did not mention “Russia” out loud, which led some people to think that the Fatima request had not been fulfilled, even though the last surviving visionary, Sister Lucia dos Santos, said St. John Paul had done so. The papal text pleads with Mary to “accept this act that we carry out with confidence and love. Grant that war may end, and peace spread throughout the world.”
For the prayer that Pope Francis will lead on March 25 for the consecration of Ukraine and Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, please click on the button below.
2
MASS ATTENDANCE REPORT
Corpus Christi Current Reality Report
Post-pandemic figures, Corpus Christi Mass attendance is over 57% lower from Q1 (January to March) in 2019 through Q1 in 2022, falling excessively to an average of 616 weekend attendees during the month of January. To read the Corpus Christi Mass Attendance report, please click the button below.
3
ALL-MINISTRY TEAM
Consultative and Developmental Body for the Ministries
In order to shepherd the People of God and to increase its numbers without cease, it is necessary for us to look into the future and plan our ministries accordingly. We must continue to: (i) be proactive and wise in our stewardship and growth as a parish; (ii) understand, embrace, and leverage our growing diversity in all forms; (iii) be wise stewards and use the financial and personnel resources that we have in a way that effectively carries out the Church’s authority and mission as instituted by Christ himself; and (iv) take advantage of the opportunities which changes in technology and communication offer.
Hence, Corpus Christi will commence the implementation process of the ALL-MINISTRY TEAM plan before the end of this fiscal year 2022 to help the ministries, committees and organizations of the Parish clarify ideas, focus efforts, use time and resources productively, trigger new behaviors, guide the focus of Parish leaders and parishioners, and help initiate momentum, among other elements.
Many of you have experienced great joy in the fruits of the Holy Spirit that have been at work here since 1979. The vibrant liturgies, the sacrificial service, and the spirit of evangelization draw many who pass through our doors into an intimate, Parish family, but most importantly, into a personal relationship with the Lord.
We are not unaware, however, of the challenges that we face in today’s world. Secular experts have declared the current times as the beginning of the “post-Christian” era. God is seen as no longer relevant in a culture that has determined truth to be subjective and the individual to be the only true god. Mass attendance is evidently in decline, reception of the sacraments has become less common, and young people are leaving the Church in alarming numbers. Our Parish community is no exception to this trend.
But we will not be the first to confront a world that rejects Jesus. The disciples were met with skepticism, hostility, and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Alone, they were powerless. And so they did what Jesus taught them to do: to seek an intimate relationship with the Father, who would fill them with the power that would transform the world.
The ALL-MINISTRY TEAM plan, then, is based on that simple model. By fostering a deeper spirituality in our Parish community, and by using the gifts we are given in our encounter, accentuating the youth and young adults, we allow the Spirit to speak and act through us.
It worked 2000 years ago. With God’s help, it will work for us today.
We humbly ask for your continuous prayers to our Lord to ensure we complete efficient implementation plans and execute this ALL-MINISTRY TEAM plan with unwavering commitment as we pursue our common goal: the growth in holiness of our parishioners. And, in the process, if our heavenly Father calls you to serve as a member of this Team, please do not hesitate to let us know by tabbing the button below.
GOAL
Assist all ministries, current and new, for the good of the Corpus Christi through consultation in establishing, coordinating, and directing their spiritual, moral, strategic, and economic life.
VISION
As we build a stronger communion of discipleship, evangelization and charity, and as we continue to encounter the transformative love of Jesus Christ, we will become a stronger witness for our faith. In sharing our resources, knowledge and expertise, we will answer our call to serve our Church, and each other.
ACTION PLAN
Task 1
Establish a Ministry Team with a mission statement and a strategic plan with goals, objectives and targets that are specific, measurable, realistic, and with a timeframe.
Task 2
Implement a strategic plan that addresses the seven essential elements of parish life to nurture a healthy faith community, but with specific consideration for the special needs, strengths and priorities of our Parish family.
Task 3
The strategic plan needs to direct current and new ministries by a set of goals that are in uniformity and correlation with the goals created in the 2012 Corpus Christi Pastoral Plan, each with identified specific and measurable actions which we would like our Parish to focus on accomplishing over the next three years.
Task 4
Establish, review and enhance ministry leadership documents with standards and guidelines.
Task 5
Identify key persons and parish groups to be responsible for specific targets of the All-Ministry Team.
Task 6
Review the status of the All-Ministry goals and actions on a quarterly basis (the first month of every quarter: January, April, July, October).
Task 7
Invite parishioners over the age of 17 to assist the All-Ministry Team by taking an anonymous parish-wide survey “Action Evaluation” every quarter and providing feedback to keep each ministry goal on schedule and evaluate its progress.
Task 8
Build a Ministry Leadership Development program that establishes a learning path for ministry leaders.
Task 9
Oversee ministry leaders spiritual and leadership development.
Task 10
Assemble a new Ministry Handbook describing our Parish ministries, associations, committees and councils.
Task 11
The new Ministry Handbook needs to provide information on our Safe Environment policy.
Task 12
Recruit new ministers, and train ministry leaders.
Task 13
Establish, review and enhance ministry leadership documents with standards and guidelines.
More information coming soon, including the establishment and development of the following new ministries:
Hospitality Ministry
Small Groups Ministry
Sunday Experience
Young Adults Alliance
Ministry of Catechists
Interfaith Ministry
Vocation Ministry
Cooperative (Volunteering) Ministry
4
SOLEMNITY OF THE ANNUNCIATION OF THE LORD
Friday, March 25 | 8:30 AM
The Feast of the Annunciation is the reason why we celebrate Christmas on December 25. Christmas comes exactly nine months after the Archangel Gabriel invited the Virgin Mary to be the Mother of God, an event we commemorate on March 25. The dating of these Feast Days, although interesting, is of minor importance compared to their theological significance. It is fruitful to reflect upon the incarnation of Jesus Christ in the womb of the Virgin Mary as the antecedent to the explosion of joy, caroling, gift giving, eating, drinking, love and family unity that surrounds the birth of the Savior. Perhaps Mary had a sort of private and internal Christmas at the moment of the Annunciation. Maybe she felt the fullness of the world’s Christmas joy inside of her own heart when she realized she had been chosen to be the Mother of God.
The incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity was a self emptying, retaining His infused divine knowledge while reducing Himself to a man and learning man life, doing man work, and dying a man death. By such a self emptying, He dignified all men and opened to them the possibility of entering into His higher life in Heaven.
O Holy Virgin Mary, we ask your intercession to make us as generous as you in accepting the will of God in our lives, especially when that will is expressed in mysterious ways. May you be our example of a generous response to what God desires of us.
5
FIRST RECONCILIATION
Sunday, March 27 | 9:30 AM
Father Joseph will meet with parents of our Group B students attending the First Communion program on Sunday, March 27, at 9:30 a.m. inside the church building. The objective of the meeting is to discuss the Sacrament of Reconciliation. All Group B students should report to their classroom at 9:15 a.m. as usual for their lesson. If any Group A parent missed last Sunday’s meeting, please try to attend this upcoming meeting.
The students of the First Communion program will celebrate their First Reconciliation on Saturday, April 2, at 10:00 a.m. Please keep in mind that at least one parent needs to be present with the child throughout the reception of First Penance inside the church building.
6
CHRISTIAN INITIATION
Corpus Christi is pleased to announce that the following individuals are preparing to enter into the Catholic Church at this year's Easter Vigil Mass on April 16.
Julian Aguilera, Carrine Austern, Merelyn Corona-Ramirez, Marla Dixon, Jonathan Gunter, Dylan Hackley, Kelli Hass, Rosalie Salgado-Chi, and Emily Sease.
In addition, the following candidates are preparing to enter into full communion with the Church: Regina Willoughby, Angela Alvarez, Marcela Alvarez, Ruth Candelaria Chi Almeida, Janice Coleman, Martin Hollenbeck, Jr.
We kindly ask that you keep our brothers and sisters in your prayers as they enter into these final stages of preparing for the Sacraments of Initiation.
7
BLOOD DRIVE & GIFT CARDS
Sunday, March 27 | 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM
The Blood Connection invites you to sign up for the Blood Drive taking place at Corpus Christi on Sunday, March 27, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Our community is still in an urgent need for blood donations. Please help Blood Connection supply local hospitals by donating blood this weekend. All donors will receive $45 eGift cards. To sign-up, please click on the button below.
8
FIRST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY DEVOTIONS
Friday, April 1, and Saturday, April 2, at 8:30 AM
Corpus Christi will celebrate Mass every first Friday and first Saturday of the month at 8:30 a.m. What are the First Friday and First Saturday Devotions? For the answer, please click the button below.
9
CONTINUOUS GENEROSITY
We are humble and truly grateful for your continuous generosity! Your contributions make a big difference in the parish life of Corpus Christi.
Week of March 14
$14,213.40
Online donations totaled $4,398; donations dropped in the basket, mailed & dropped through the mail slot totaled $9,815.
Week of March 7
$20,047.14
Online donations totaled $3,423; dropped donations totaled $16,624.
Week of February 28
$21,435.61
Online donations totaled $3,875; dropped donations totaled $17,560.
Week of February 21
$21,811.14
Online donations totaled $3,999; dropped donations totaled $17,812.
|
10
FAMILY SKATE
What an awesome afternoon! Thank you to all who came to show off their moves (and support), and to the leaders of the Middle and High School Youth Groups. Look for another social event coming soon.
11
AN ACT OF LOVE
Offer a Prayer For Our Community
Corpus Christi asks that you pause a moment to offer a prayer for our community in faith:
For all Parishioners of Corpus Christi
Patricia McGuinness-Rabon
Max Pelley
Bernie Lewis
Lloyd Patrick
Pamela Beth Holsclaw
Bruce Campbell
Tamatha Sliegh
Jovita Prieto
Horace and Patricia Davis
Brian Taylor
Bob Kirchner
Marie Briggs
Nicole Spensley
Maureen Brown
Nettie Taylor
Jacob Rivera
12
NEW SCHEDULE
April 1, 2022
All ministers of the Mass, including lectors, extraordinary ministers of the Eucharist, altar servers, ushers, greeters and sacristans, are scheduled with new assignments for the months of April, May and June through our web-based program Ministry Scheduler. For the new schedule, tab the button below.
13
BIRTHRIGHT BABY SHOWER
Sunday, March 27 | 1:00 - 3:00 PM
