Palm Sunday - March 28, 2021
Holy Week – What is Holy After All?
Dear Parishioners,

This weekend, on Palm Sunday, we enter into Holy Week. What does the word ‘holy’ mean? ‘Holy’ means dedicated or consecrated to God or set apart. We make this week ‘holy’ by setting apart sometime to pray, reflect, and participate in the community worship. So I invite all of you to set apart some time to participate in the unfolding of the great mystery of God’s love.

What happens during Holy Week? On Palm Sunday, we commemorate Jesus’ humble entry (on a donkey) into Jerusalem to observe Passover. We have the blessing and procession of palms. Maundy Thursday marks Jesus’ institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. During normal times, Maundy Thursday is accompanied by the washing of the feet. Good Friday commemorates Jesus’ suffering and death on the cross; it is traditionally a day of sorrow, penance, and fasting. Holy Saturday, also called Easter Vigil, is the traditional end of Lent. Easter Sunday is the celebration of Jesus’ Resurrection.

Unfortunately, the rest of the world does not stop or slow down to give us extra time for all this liturgy and church attendance. We may be fortunate to have an employer who gives us Good Friday as a day off. But daily life continues, and our minds spin with scores of other stories that threaten to obscure the Jesus story.

How can we maintain some realm of holy quiet? How to “do” Holy Week, especially if we will not be participating in all the special church liturgies at this time? Here are just a few suggestions. I hope you’re helped by at least one or two of them.

  1. Listening to some sacred music that will calm you and help you to experience the love of God.
  2. Choose one of the Passion narratives—from any of the four Gospels—and read it aloud to yourself over the course of the week.
  3. While you’re sitting—maybe at the end of the day, trying to unwind in a favorite chair—try drawing aspects of Holy Week. Use whatever paper and pen(cil) is available and express something about symbols that are meaningful to you: cross, lily, bread, chalice, table, garden, hands, faces, a road.
  4. Find some time this week to go on a spiritual pilgrimage with Jesus, wherever you are.
  5. Set apart some sacred space and time for reflection.

With blessings and love,

Fr. Saju Joseph
HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE
As per Santa Clara County regulations, sign-ups are required for in-person Masses. Please sign-up using the links above. For assistance, call the parish office at 408-294-8953.
LITURGY
MASS INTENTIONS
March 27 - April 2
To schedule a Mass intention, please email [email protected].
Saturday 5:00pm - Ben Patellaro † and
Richard Redmond †

Sunday 8:30am - James & Vincee Viso †

Sunday 10:00am - JW Knapen

Sunday 11:30am - Robert Lawrence † and
Judy McQuillen †

Monday 8:00am - Mary Harrington † and Teresa Geever †

Tuesday 8:00am - Aidan Macken

Wednesday 8:00am - Souls in Purgatory

Holy Thursday (No 8:00 AM Mass)

Good Friday (No 8:00 AM Mass)
PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE DECEASED:
Mary Mancuso, Zeny Magpantay, Sandy Dias, Mary Harrington, Sean Reed, Tony LaPres, Alice de Marco
PRAYER REQUESTS FOR THE SICK:
Sandy Crane, Brian Johst, Cita Estrella, Dr. Amy Irwin, Aidan Macken, John Steffens, Ernesto Damasco, Phuong Huu Nguen, Tom Bommarito, Helena Knapen, Jennine Inghran
Please pray with us for our parishioners, family and friends.
Prayer Angels Ministry
Prayer is one of the greatest gifts you can give another. If you or someone you know is in need of prayers (sick, deceased, birthday, anniversary...), please email Therese Lehane at [email protected] and let our Prayer Angels pray for you or someone you know.
STEWARDSHIP & DEVELOPMENT
Congratulations Andrea Lacy

We congratulate our very own Andrea Lacy for her commitment to helping others. Andrea, the founder of Luv's Brownies has turned brownies into scholarships for kids in need. See her story here on Good Morning America. Andrea is an inspiration to us all!
Easter Lily Donations Needed

We are so excited to celebrate Easter Mass in the church! Every year we welcome donations of Easter Lilies to decorate the church altar for Easter Sunday. Please bring your donation to the church or parish office on or before April 2. We appreciate your generosity and help in decorating the church. Thank you!!

Thank you again to the 259 households who have already responded with a gift to the 2021 Annual Diocesan Appeal. To date we have raised $106,346 toward our $135,253 goal. The programs, services, and ministries supported by the Annual Diocesan Appeal are intended to meet the needs of Catholics here in the Diocese of San Jose. The Church serves each of us, and financial support is needed to continue God’s work here in Santa Clara County across 54 parishes and missions. All gifts collected above our goal will come back to our parish directly. If you have not made your gift yet, please prayerfully consider making a gift through our parish office or using the link below. For more information on the work of the Diocese of San Jose or to make a gift online, visit www.dsj.org/ADA. Thank you for your continued support!!!
If you would like to make a secure one time donation and/or setup regular on line donations, click here. Donations for upcoming Second Collections can also be made online. Thank you for your continued financial support!!
Office open by appointment
Monday -Thursday 10 AM to 5 PM

If you or a loved one is in need of Sacramental care, such as anointing of the sick, last rites, confession, Fr. Gener & Fr. Saju are available. Please contact them directly. Staff Directory
SERVING THE SUFFERING CHRIST As we enter Holy Week and celebrate Palm Sunday, let’s reflect on how our Lord suffered from our indifference: those who proclaimed him king of Jerusalem were the same who called to crucify him. We recognize we are all one human family. Are we contributing to the suffering of our sisters and brothers with our indifference to their realities? How does our faith inspire us to care for them and share the gifts that God has bestowed on us? Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more.
Please return your Bowls/envelopes by April 11, 2021.
FAITH FORMATION & SPIRITUALITY
PRAYERS FOR OUR ELECT & CANDIDATES

Please keep our Elect and Candidates in your prayers as they prepare to receive their Sacraments at Easter Vigil.
Jill Marie Weeks, Sadie Jane Vaughn,
Rashaell Sequeiros, Sylvana Sequeiros,
and Amy Rose Siebenthaler
FAMILY REFLECTION AND ACTION
multigeneration_family.jpg
March 28, 2021 Palm/Passion Sunday 

Mark 11:1-10 • Isaiah 50:4-7 • Philippians 2:6-11 • Mark 14:1—15:47 
"…every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." — Phil. 2:11
 
Today we reflect on Christ’s passion and death. In the midst of the story it is hard to believe that “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” Most voices at this moment are condemning him. There are only a few people that are standing by him, suffering with him. There are times in life when we have the choice to be a person who stands for God, even it’s really difficult, or to be a person of anger, betrayal, and abandonment. 

Prayer: Lord, you suffered because of your great love for us. Give me a voice to tell people how important you are to me! 

Reflection: Which voice will you have in this week before Easter? Which side will you be on, Christ’s or the world’s? 
CHILDREN'S SUNDAY BULLETIN & ACTIVITIES
Web Link for this week - Children's Sunday Bulletin & Activities:
ST. MARTIN OF TOURS SCHOOL NEWS
Welcome to the St. Martin Community Cookbook! We realize our families have been cooking at home much more and may have special recipes to share or need new ideas. Do you have a great sourdough bread recipe or your own personal twist on a classic? In the “Notes” section, please make sure to add your family name and students and graduation years, and/or your alumni year. Please be sure to tell us if this recipe is special/important and why. Submit Recipe Here
AROUND THE DIOCESE & COMMUNITY
Let us be renewed ourselves first:  Watch, reflect on, and share Bishop Cantú’s homily from Friday’s 40th Anniversary Mass on the Solemnity of St. Joseph. The text of the homily is available in Spanish and Vietnamese on the Diocese website .
Visit the Diocese of San Jose Year of St. Joseph Webpage: We hope that through using these resources you will grow in love and devotion St. Joseph as the guardian and protector of God’s people, the Church. May Saint Joseph and the Holy Family intercede for us in this work of rededicating ourselves to the mission of Jesus Christ.  www.dsj.org/yearofstjoseph 
Covid-19 Vaccines Explained Ethics: As a faith community concerned about the sanctity of human life, the Diocese of San Jose encourages everyone to strongly consider getting vaccinated, after consulting their physicians or health care providers, for the sake of their own health and the common good of our community. The vaccines are safe and free. Health insurance and immigration status will not affect your eligibility. You can learn more about the moral and ethical issues regarding COVID-19 vaccines and why they have been deemed morally acceptable by the Church by visiting:  https://www.dsj.org/covid19vaccines/

Vaccine Informational Handouts: Please share with your communities this double-sided flyer covering the basics on the ethics and science of vaccines. English | Spanish | Vietnamese
Married Singles Lifestyle –The Married Singles Lifestyle describes couples that may have lost a sense of closeness they once had as marriage partners and are living more like roommates. Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi with a long i) teaches couples how to survive times like these in their marriages. This program has helped 10’s of 1000’s of couples experiencing difficulty at all levels of marital distress from disillusionment to deep misery. 
For confidential information about or to register for the April Virtual Marriage Program beginning with a weekend on April 22-25, 2021 call 408-605-4998 Email: [email protected] or visit the web site at www.HelpOurMarriage.org
RESOURCES & ASSISTANCE
Questions?
Please email the Parish Office.