Pastor's letter and Mass Times

SAINT ANTHONY

PARISH

Dear Parishioners,

Which is the first of all the commandments?

This question, posed to Jesus by a scribe in today’s Gospel, has us thinking that this might be another “test” by a learned Jewish scholar. In fact, the Gospel of Matthew explicitly calls it such (Mt 22:35), and it appears within the context of several such tests by the Pharisees and scribes. But the Gospel we read this Sunday is Mark’s and his account of this exchange is much more collegial, and he does not call it a test.

Jesus answers the scribe with a Scripture verse that would have been familiar to any faithful Jewish person. It comes from the Book of Deuteronomy, and we heard it in the first reading: love God with all your heart, soul, and strength – your whole being. In that time of our salvation history, Moses was teaching God’s people how to live and prosper within the covenant.

The foundation for the covenant is love: God’s love. God loves his people and is working wonders to save them. He freed them from slavery and led them out of Egypt. He is caring for them as he leads them to the Promised Land.

God has proven his great love and fidelity for his people; He asks for their love and fidelity in return. If they take this to heart, and love God with all they’ve got, everything will be all right. It is for their own well-being, Moses tells them. All God wants to do is love them, care for them, and bring them into the land flowing with milk and honey. What they need to do is be open and cooperative and not turn their backs on God. They need to keep focused on loving God, fully and faithfully. The same is true for us: keep focused on loving God and letting him love us.

The second commandment Jesus offers is from Leviticus, another book of law given through Moses. God’s people are to love their neighbors as themselves. Again, this law is rooted in God’s love. God has treated his people with much love, mercy, and justice, and he expects them to treat one another the same way, cooperating with him in establishing peace and prosperity. This command is connected to the first, since when we love God fully and faithfully, we want to follow his ways, do as he does, and love like he loves.

In answering with these two commands, Jesus reinforces that God’s law is a law of love.

It is not a weapon to condemn or instill fear and anxiety, but rather is intended for our well-being. It is both a prescription and a description: God loves and cares for us, and we are to love and care for one another. This is how Jesus teaches us to understand and use the law, and when we do, we come closer together to the kingdom of God’s love and peace, the foretaste of which we share in this Eucharist.

Blessings,

Fr. Tad

MASS ETIQUETTE

Remember to silence, turn off, and put away your cell phones, tablets, and gaming devices prior the start of Mass.

Remember not to chew a gum in the church, especially during Mass.

Keep in mind the Communion fast – we are to fast from food and drink (water and medicine excluded) one hour before receiving Holy Communion. Let us prepare our body and soul to worthily receive our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament.

When we are in the church (specifically in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament), we should keep our volume to a reverential whisper, if conversation is necessary. This is to promote prayer to prepare our hearts and minds for Mass. Thank you for your mindfulness.

Our Catholic Tradition encourages prayer for all the souls of those who have gone before us. We commend the souls of the faithful departed to God and pray that they may be assisted on their way to heaven. As we read in the Catechism: "From the beginning the Church has honored the memory of the dead and offered prayers in suffrage for them, above all the eucharistic sacrifice, so that, thus purified, they may attain the beatific vision of God” (CCC, 1032).

In your charity, please join us in making time to pray for the dead, an act of mercy with eternal consequences. This act of mercy and love is expressed by offering Masses

throughout the month of November, starting on November 1^st. Whether you can come and pray with us or not, those prayers will be offered in 30 Masses for your loved ones.

For us to know for whom to pray, please, use the All Souls Envelops that have been sent to your homes or if you don’t have one, you can find it in the vestibule (entrance to our church).

You are welcome to bring a photograph of your loved one that will be displayed in front of the altar.

Eternal rest grant unto them o Lord and let perpetual light shine upon them.

FIRST FRIDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

November 1, 2024

“The object of Eucharistic adoration is the divine person of our Lord Jesus Christ present in the most Blessed Sacrament. He is living there. He wants us to speak to him, and he will speak to us. Anybody may speak to our Lord. Is he not there for everybody? Does he not tell us, “Come you all to me”?”- St. Peter J. Eymard

Join us Friday, Nov 1, at 7:00 PM for All Saints Mass Day. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will begin at 7 PM and it will end at 7:00 AM the following morning with Benediction. All are invited to the delicious breakfast that will be served afterwards.

Religious Education - 2nd Collection - November 3

National Vocation Awareness Week

November 3-9, 2024

NVAW is a week-long event held annually by the Catholic Church in the United States. It is dedicated to promoting vocations to ordained ministry and consecrated life. During those days all parishes are asked to pray especially for an increase in vocations. Please, remember our seminarians, especially our Dominican sister Thuy and our parishioner-candidate-seminarian, Lorenzo Caruso, when saying your prayers.

IT'S TURKEY TIME

Outreach's Annual Turkey And Canned Goods Drive for Sacred Heart Community Services will be from November 3 - 17.

There will be 2 barrels in the McKean Church Foyer starting Nov. 3 for your canned goods donations. Sacred Heart has requested pop-top cans of meat, vegetables, and non-condensed soup. See flyer below for most requested items.

Outreach will collect small frozen turkeys at the 8:30 and 10:30 Masses on Sun. Nov 17. No frozen turkeys at 4:00 Mass- ONLY CANNED GOODS PLEASE.

Monetary donations will be accepted. PLEASE MAKE YOUR CHECKS PAYABLE TO SACRED HEART COMMUNITY SERVICES. They can be put into the offertory baskets or dropped off at the Church office. There will be no online donations.

Sacred Heart and Outreach thanks you for your generosity and God bless.

DIOCESE OF SAN JOSE: PASTORAL PLAN

The Diocese of San Jose has been working on a spiritual renewal (like the Eucharistic Revival among others) of our parish communities and encouraged the parishes to undertake evangelization efforts among the people. In case you have not yet seen the Diocese of San Jose plan (released late last year), you can view/download a copy here. The St. Anthony Pastoral Council and Finance Committee are working to incorporate applicable elements of the Diocese plan into our own St. Anthony Parish Plan, and will share highlights of the integrated plan with the community in Q1 2025.

PICTURES FROM ST. ANTHONY’S TRUNK OR TREAT

Thank you so much to all who decorated their cars and contributed to making this event a success! Thank you, Fr. Tad, for allowing the kids to sit on your motorcycle! Everyone had a great time!

Happy Birthday!!

Last week Marilyn McMahon, Doug Jackson and Jean Hembrooke celebrated special birthdays. May God bless them with more many years of good health and happiness!

Renovation Project of our Cottage

Renovation cost : around $7,000

Money raised: $ 6,400

Thank you to 9 generous families for their donation.

2025 Mass Intention Book

The 2025 Mass book is available.

A very special prayer practice that is offered at every Mass is a Mass Intention. Intentions are offered for many reasons, for the living and the dead. Masses can be offered for birthdays, anniversaries, illness, special intentions and answered prayers. Consider remembering a loved one this upcoming year.

If you are looking for a specific date for the Mass, call soon to reserve your date so that it isn’t taken.

Contact the parish office ~ (408) 997-4800; email us at churchstanthony@dsj.org.

A donation of $10 is suggested.

Religious Education Classes for children at Saint Anthony Parish has already begun this month, but it is not too late to sign up. Whether preparing for first Holy Communion or to take part in continued formation, all children and youth can learn more and grow in their faith.

Forms are available in the parish office. The cost is $80 per child.

Please sign up your child asap. Any questions, please call Katrina Votaw at (408) 927-8224.

We hope your children will join us this year!!

CALLING ALL MUSICIANS AND SINGERS

The 8:30 AM and 10:30 AM choirs are looking to recruit more singers and musicians. Please consider sharing your talent and joining us in praising God through music.

Rehearsals for the 8:30 AM Mass are on Tuesdays at 7:00 PM and rehearsals for the 10:30 AM Mass are on Wednesdays at 7:00 PM.

For more information, contact Denise Delong at: denise_delong@yahoo.com or speak to a choir member after Mass.

Have you ever tried to “Sing the Hours”?

The Liturgy of the Hours, also known as the Divine Office or Breviary, is the daily prayer of the universal church, with prayers dispersed at intervals throughout the day to sanctify time and work. The Office is organized around the Psalms, which train our voices speak and sing along with the voice of Christ.

Now, there is a new and easy way to learn the Liturgy of the Hours, by listening to the twice-daily podcast “Sing the Hours” with Paul Rose. Visit SingTheHours.org to get started! After a few weeks of listening and praying and singing along, you will find the timeless prayers of Jesus and His Church becoming your own prayers as well!

DONATIONS INFO

It is easier now more than ever to make your stewardship and second collection contributions online. A "Donate" button has been added to the upper right corner of the parish website home page and an "Online Giving" button to the end of each week's parish email. Clicking these buttons will take you directly to our online giving app.