February 23, 2020 Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time

1806 Novato Blvd., Novato, CA 94947 415-897-2171 FAX 415-897-8251

Email: church@ollnovato.org www.ollnovato.org

May all our deceased Parishioners rest in

the loving arms of Christ.

Mass Intentions February 22 through March 1

BC : Fr. Brian Costello TV: Fr. Tony Vallecillo

Please pray for our parishioners who are sick and suffering that they may know the embrace of Christ’s healing love.

Laverne Avella, Maureen Bear, Dick Buxton, Cabaco Family, Nikki Collier, Fr. Brian Costello, Erica Counts, Karin Craig, Donna Falzon, Joan Friel, Mandy

Gallegos, Jerrad Giomi, Cynthia Garcia, Larry Grubert, Ann Halpein, Lou Healy, Mary Louise Henderson, Tiffany Hutchinson, Muriel Johnson, Robert Kelly,

Danny Kirsten, Joanne Kovarik, Rosemarie La Pan, Dominga Lee, David Lovett, Jose Luis Lozano, Eireann McCarthy, Tony Medeiros, Jesse Mendoza, Scott Mitchell, Gregory Nelson, Jonathan Pardini, Ramiro Peniado, Agnes Piva, Nicolas Ramirez,

Henrique Santos, Jeffrey Sarmiento, Jack Seely, Marcia Smith, Juliana Smith, Jacob Telderer, Richard Thomas, Jay Wayne, Georgia Yuder

Please call the Rectory to place someone on the Prayer List.

Day Time Intentions Priest

Saturday 2/22 9:00am 5:00pm

Rosemary Goggins + OLL Parishioners

BC BC

Sunday 2/23 8:00am 10:00am 12:00pm

Thomas Slaiman + Frank U’Ren + Jorge Monreal + , Tomasa Serrano +, Raudel Munoz + , Milton Lopez +, Moises Gurrola+, Josmani Sura +

BC BC TV

Monday 2/24 9:00am

Rosemary Goggins + TV

Tuesday 2/25 9:00am

Tim Troy + BC

Wednesday 2/26 9:00am 6:00pm 7:30pm

Roberta Kraus + Jim and Peggy Murphy +

BC

Thursday 2/27 9:00am Jack Major + TV

Friday 2/28 9:00am Ryan Feeley + BC

Saturday 2/29 9:00am 5:00pm

Tim Troy + Henry Dole +

BC BC

Sunday 3/1 8:00am 10:00am 12:00pm

Helen Rose Weott + Frank U’ Ren + OLL Parishioners Horalia de Leon +

BC BC TV

Rev. Brian Costello, Pastor Ext. 227

frbrian@ollnovato.org

Rev. Tony Vallecillo frtony@ollnovato.org Parochial Vicar Ext. 279

RECTORY OFFICE

415-897-2171

Patrick Reeder EXT. 234 Parish Manager

Office Staff Erin Troy EXT. 222

Allen Shirley EXT. 236

Our Lady of Loretto School Mrs. Kathleen Kraft, Principal

415-892-8621

Parish Religious Education

Amy Bjorklund Reeder, Dir. Grades 1-6 and Co-Director

of Adult Faith Formation

415-897-6714

Annie Troy, Dir. Youth Ministry and Confirmation

Co-Director of Adult Faith Formation 415-897-2171 ext.277

Kathleen Pitti—Religious Ed. Secretary

Richard Elliott, Choir Director

1-925-997-5041 willowsth@aol.com

PRIEST EMERGENCY NUMBER

415-301-0514

Mass Times

Monday—Friday 9:00 am

Saturday 9:00am 5:00 pm (Vigil Mass)

Sunday 8:00 am, 10:00 am,

12:00 pm Spanish Mass

Eucharistic Adoration Monday—Friday 9:30am-5:00 pm

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Monday 6:00pm—8:00pm Saturday 3:00pm-4:00pm

Rosary

Monday—Thursday after 9am Mass and 5 pm

Friday after 9am Mass and at 5pm Sunday at 3:00pm

Baptisms

Please contact the Rectory- Catechesis Required

Pre–Baptismal Classes in English are held the second Saturday of each month at 10am.

Pre–Baptismal classes in Spanish are held

on the third Thursday of each month at 7pm. Please call the rectory office to schedule

your class.

Marriages Please contact the Rectory at least

6 months in advance

Our Lady of Loretto St. Vincent de Paul Society

415-497-5090

Visit us on the Web www.ollnovato.org E-mail us:

church@ollnovato.org

RECEIVE PARISH EMAIL COMMUNICATIONS BY JOINING US

ON FLOCKNOTE Join via the FLOCKNOTE link at

www.ollnovato.org

Or TEXT: OLLNOVATO to 84576

ADULT FAITH FORMATION- LENTEN SERIES Coming this Lent At OLL - Save the dates (all Wednesdays at 6:30pm in the 8th grade classroom)

3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/25, & 4/1. There is no cost to attend. Please contact amy@ollnovato.org or annie@ollnovato.org or call 415-897-6714 to be placed on the list

Divine Mercy In The Second Greatest Story Ever Told

www.lighthousecatholicmedia.org/mercy

FEATURING FR. MICHAEL GAITLEY, MIC Divine Mercy In The Second Greatest Story Ever Told is a dramatic 10-session film journey featuring the renowned Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC. With his characteristic skill and lucid style, Fr. Gaitley interweaves the dramatic history of Poland, the transformative message of St. Faustina, the miraculous appearance of Mary at Fatima, the witness of St. Maximilian Kolbe, and the world-changing papacy of St. John Paul II into a tapestry of wonder and beauty. And now, for the first time, Fr. Gaitley’s luminous teaching is presented with the cinematic artistry of the Augustine Institute’s film team, bringing to life the vast panorama of God’s work of mercy in the world, and his calling to the hearts of all who will embrace it.

Dear Friends, I never thought I would have to write you a letter like this, but on Tuesday, Febru-ary 11th (the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes), my world was turned upside down. I would like to explain to you what is medically going on with me without going into too much of the gory details.

On Tuesday, I woke up and noticed I was jaundiced. I also noticed that my urine was very dark. Something was seriously wrong with me. I talked with some doctors and nurses in the parish about this and they told me to go to the hospital immediately. So, around noon I checked myself into Novato Community and they gave me a CT Scan. When the doctor and nurse came back to give me the results, they said they had some bad news. They told me I had a cancerous growth on my liver and that the cancer had spread upwards into my lungs. They called it Stage Four Cancer, which to me, was a death sentence. They told me that they could control the cancer, but they could not cure it through Chemo. I was amazed at how well I ac-cepted this news. Now I know how I am to die. I left Novato Community at 3am Wednesday morning in an ambulance for CPMC in the City. If you have liver cancer, this is the place to go. I was at CPMC for the next three days where they ran a battery of tests, namely a PET Scan and putting a tube down my throat and into my stomach. These tests all confirmed the original diagnosis I got in Novato. I’ve been thinking a lot about the words of Job in the Hebrew Scriptures: “The Lord gives, and the Lord takes. Blessed be the name of the Lord.” I have accepted God’s plan for me, and I am totally at peace. Isn’t this what our faith teaches us? Some friends of mine have suggested that I go on medical retirement with whatever time I have left. I have decided to come back home to OLL and spend my remaining days, weeks, and months to be with you until I can’t physically work anymore. I want to continue to sup-port Rebuilt and make OLL the parish I know it can be. I would like to break down the walls that presently exist between the parish, school, and Spanish Communities. But on a deeper level I want to be a model for a happy death. How many times in the Scriptures do we hear the words: “Be not afraid.” I am not afraid. I have fully accepted God’s plan in my life. I want to live a life of love and joy until God calls me home. One of my favorite saints is Pope John XXIII. As he lay dying in Rome in 1963, he told his family and friends: “My bags are packed.” I am beginning the process of packing my bags and I want to share that process with you. Lou Gehrig, the Pride of the Yankees, returned to Yankee Stadium one last time in 1947 as he was dying. He told the crowd “some of you might think I have been given a bad break, but today I feel I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth.” I feel the same way as Lou Gehrig. I might not have been given an abundance of years, but it’s been a wonderful life. Let us continue to build the City of God here in our little piece of Novato.

Have a great Lent!

Father Brian

ADULT FAITH FORMATION

THIS WEEK IN CONFIRMATION & YOUTH MINISTRY

Middle & High School Confirmation classes re-sume this week at their regularly scheduled times.

CATHOLIC DAUGHTERS

HIGH TEA TODAY

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2020, 2:00PM

“There are two questions that confront the people of every place and time, questions that confront you and me today: Are you satisfied with the di-rection the world is moving in? Are you satisfied with your life?” Matthew Kelly Dynamic Catholic Consider Cursillo for your life. Experience God’s love in a new and wonderful way. Common remark from those who have attended: “I wish I hadn’t waited so long.” Some spaces still available: Women’s Weekend: Thurs. Evening, April 16 to Sun. Afternoon, April 19 Men’s Weekend: Thurs.Evening, April 23 to Sun.Afternoon, April 26

www.marincursillo.com Contact: Jean & Tom Nelson

(415) 892-2348

The next meeting of the OLL Book Club will take place THURSDAY, March 5, when we will meet to discuss Michael E. Gaitley, MIC's book "The Second Greatest Story Ever Told: Now is the Time of Mercy". Please join us at 10am in the Convent Chapel. All are welcome. If you'd like discussion ques-tions emailed to you ahead of time, please con-tact amy@ollnovato.org

PROJECT DRESSER is looking for a few good men and women to help with this new and on-going ministry.

While it's always fun to shop off of the list, we know that many of you have gifts, talents and interests that will be a great help to the behind-the-scenes of this effort. If you are interested in helping to set-up and maintain our new "Baby Store" closet, search the garage sales for gently used dressers, serve as drivers to transport dressers and deliver baby gifts to the Marin Pregnancy Center, restore and paint dressers to prepare them for their new homes, assemble our baby gifts for delivery, or shop for uncollected items, we want YOU!

Please call Annie or Erin (415) 897-2171 to let us know how you'd like to help and we'll put you on our list! Thank you so much for your ongoing support of this new ministry at Our Lady of

RCIA NEWS

Our Lady of Loretto’s RCIA program will not meet this Wednesday, February 26, in order that participants can attend the Ash Wednesday litur-gy that evening. Regular sessions will resume next week.

TODAY’S READINGS First Reading — Take no revenge and cherish no grudge; love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:1-2, 17-18). Psalm — The Lord is kind and merciful (Psalm 103). Second Reading — You are the temple of God, and holy (1 Corinthians 3:16-23). Gospel — Offer no resistance; love your enemies (Matthew 5:38-48).

This Week at OLL February 23 — March 1

Adoration Monday through Friday 9:30am to 5pm

Sun. Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time Mon. Tue. Perpetual Help Prayer Group, 6 pm, Chapel Al-Anon, 7:15 pm, Convent Wed. ASH WEDNESDAY (See Below) Thurs. Choir Practice, 6:30pm, Choir Room Fri. Sat. Cenacle, 9:30 am, Chapel Sun. First Sunday of Lent

Esta semana en OLL 23 Febrero - 1 Marzo

Adoration—Monday through Friday 9:30am to 5pm

Domingo: VII Domingo Ordinario Lunes: Martes: Miércoles: Miércoles de Ceniza Jueves: Viernes: Grupo de Oracion—Iglesia—7pm Sab: Cenacle—Church—9:30am Domingo: Primer Domingo de Cuaresma

SAVE THE DATE Indian Valley Golf Club Thursday June 18, 2020

Our Lady of Loretto 16th Annual

Youth Ministry Golf Tournament

For More information call Mike Morris—415-897-6862

El PROYECTO DRESSER está buscando algunos bue-nos hombres y mujeres para ayudar con este nuevo y continuo min-isterio. Si bien siempre es di-

vertido comprar fuera de la lista, sabemos que mu-chos de ustedes tienen dones, talentos e intereses que serán de gran ayuda para el detrás de escena de este esfuerzo. Si está interesado en ayudar a configurar y mantener nuestro nuevo armario de "Baby Store", busque en las ventas de garaje aparadores usados con suavidad, sirva como conductores para transportar los aparadores y entregue regalos para bebés al Cen-tro de embarazo Marin, restaure y pinte los apara-dores a prepárelos para sus nuevos hogares, reúna nuestros regalos para bebés para la entrega o compre artículos sin recolectar, ¡lo queremos a USTED! ¡Llame a Annie o Erin (415) 897-2171 para infor-marnos cómo le gustaría ayudar y lo pondremos en nuestra lista! Muchas gracias por su continuo apoyo a este nuevo ministerio en Nuestra Señora de Loret-to.

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.

LECTURAS DE HOY Primera lectura — No te vengues ni guardes rencor, ama a tu prójimo como a ti mismo (Levítico 19:1-2, 17-18). Salmo — El Señor es compasivo y miseri-cordioso (Salmo 103 [102]). Segunda lectura — Tú eres templo de Dios y eres santo (1 Corintios 3:16-23). Evangelio — No ofrezcas resistencia; ama a tus enemigos (Mateo 5:38-48).

ASH WEDNESDAY MASS SCHEDULE

9:00 AM Mass

12 Noon—Prayer Service 6:00 PM Mass

7:30 PM Spanish Mass

Queridos amigos, Nunca pensé que tendría que escribirte una carta como esta, pero el martes 11 de febrero (la fiesta de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes), mi mundo se puso patas arriba. Me gustaría explicarle lo que está pasando médicamente conmigo sin en-trar en demasiados detalles sangrientos.

El martes, me desperté y noté que tenía ictericia. También noté que mi orina era muy oscura. Algo estaba muy mal conmigo. Hablé con algunos médicos y enfermeras de la par-roquia sobre esto y me dijeron que fuera al hospital de inmediato. Entonces, alrededor del me-diodía, me registré en la Comunidad Novato y me dieron una tomografía computarizada. Cu-ando el médico y la enfermera regresaron para darme los resultados, me dijeron que tenían malas noticias. Me dijeron que tenía un crecimiento canceroso en el hígado y que el cáncer se había extendido a mis pulmones. Lo llamaron Etapa Cuatro Cáncer, que para mí era una sen-tencia de muerte. Me dijeron que podían controlar el cáncer, pero que no podían curarlo con quimioterapia. Me sorprendió lo bien que acepté esta noticia. Ahora sé cómo voy a morir. Salí de Novato Community a las 3 de la madrugada del miércoles en una ambulancia para CPMC en la ciudad. Si tiene cáncer de hígado, este es el lugar para ir. Estuve en el CPMC durante los siguientes tres días, donde realizaron una batería de pruebas, a saber, un escáner PET y me colocaron un tubo en la garganta y en el estómago. Todas estas pruebas confirmaron el diagnóstico original que recibí en Novato. He estado pensando mucho en las palabras de Job en las Escrituras hebreas: "El Señor da, y el Señor toma. Bendito sea el nom-bre del Señor ". He aceptado el plan de Dios para mí y estoy totalmente en paz. ¿No es esto lo que nos enseña nuestra fe? Algunos amigos míos me han sugerido que me retire de la medicina con el tiempo que me queda. He decidido regresar a casa a OLL y pasar los días, semanas y meses restantes para estar contigo hasta que ya no pueda trabajar físicamente. Quiero seguir apoyan-do a Rebuilt y hacer de OLL la parroquia que sé que puede ser. Me gustaría derribar los muros que existen actualmente entre la parroquia, la escuela y las comunidades españolas. Pero en un nivel más profundo quiero ser un modelo para una muerte feliz. ¿Cuántas veces en las Es-crituras escuchamos las palabras: "No tengas miedo". No tengo miedo. He aceptado completa-mente el plan de Dios en mi vida. Quiero vivir una vida de amor y alegría hasta que Dios me llame a casa. Uno de mis santos favoritos es el Papa Juan XXIII. Mientras moría en Roma en 1963, le dijo a su familia y amigos: "Mis maletas están empacadas". Estoy comenzando el proceso de empacar mis maletas y quiero compartir ese proceso con ustedes. Lou Gehrig, el Orgullo de los Yankees, regresó al Yankee Stadium por última vez en 1947 cuando se estaba muriendo. Le dijo a la multitud "algunos de ustedes podrían pensar que me dieron un mal descanso, pero hoy siento que soy el hombre más afortunado de la faz de la tierra". Me siento igual que Lou Gehrig. Puede que no me hayan dado muchos años, pero ha sido una vida maravillosa. Sigamos construyendo la Ciudad de Dios aquí en nuestro pequeño pedazo de No-vato. ¡Que tengan una gran Cuaresma! Padre Brian