Pastor's letter and Mass Times

SAINT ANTHONY

PARISH

DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY

Mankind’s need for the message of Divine Mercy took on dire urgency in the twentieth century, when civilization began to experience an “eclipse of the sense of God,” and therefore, to lose the understanding of the sanctity and inherent dignity of human life. In 1931, Jesus appeared to Sr. Faustina in Poland and expressed his desire for a feast celebrating his mercy. The Feast of Mercy was to be on the Sunday after Easter and was to include a public blessing and liturgical veneration of His image with the inscription “Jesus, I trust in You.”

This promise of mercy has been affirmed by the Church, which has made Divine Mercy Sunday an occasion for receiving a plenary indulgence, “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven” (CCC, no. 1471).

The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under the usual conditions (Confession, Eucharist, prayer for the intentions of the pope, and complete detachment from sin, even venial sin). The faithful may either take part in the prayers and devotions held in honor of Divine Mercy in any church or chapel or recite the Our Father and Creed in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament exposed or reserved in the tabernacle, adding a devout prayer to the merciful Lord Jesus.

There are many aspects of the Divine Mercy devotion, including the Chaplet, the Divine Mercy image, and the “hour of great mercy” (3:00 p.m.). The popularity of these devotions, focused on the Lord’s infinite mercy, has grown rapidly in recent decades. Regarding the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, St. Faustina wrote that Jesus said to her, “At the hour of their death, I defend as My own glory every soul that will say this chaplet; or when others say it for a dying person “ (Divine Mercy in My Soul, no. 811).

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.

Catholic Home Missions Appeal - 2nd Collection -

Apr 26 & 27 to sustain more than 70 Mission Dioceses in the United States.

Bishop Chad W. Zielinski used to make pastoral visits using a snow machine and seaplane when he was bishop of Fairbanks, Alaska. As chairman of the U.S. bishops’ Subcommittee on Catholic Home Missions, he asks Catholics to consider the challenges faced by dioceses like Fairbanks and to give generously to the annual appeal supporting the ministry to the Catholic faithful in dioceses that need assistance to sustain basic ministries.

In Memoriam Pope Francis With deep sadness, the Diocese of San José joins the worldwide Church in mourning the passing of Pope Francis. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated on Saturday, April 26 at 10:00 a.m. (Rome time) in St. Peter’s Square, followed by his burial at St. Mary Major Basilica. This marks the beginning of the Novendiales, a series of nine days of Masses for his soul.

In honor of Pope Francis, Bishop Oscar Cantú will celebrate a Diocesan Memorial Mass on Tuesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Joseph. All are invited to join in prayer as we remember the life and legacy of our Holy Father.

For the full statement from Bishop Cantú, please visit: www.dsj.org/bishop-cantus-statement-on-the-passing-of-pope-francis

How Has Pope Francis Touched Your Life? In light of the passing of our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Diocese of San José invites all clergy, parishioners, and staff to share how his life and ministry has shaped your spiritual journey. Select reflections will be featured in a special tribute in The Valley Catholic. Please submit your testimonial by Monday, April 28 using this link: https://forms.office.com/r/vqC2H0rYJw Let us come together in gratitude for Pope Francis’ legacy and honor his profound impact on our Church and world.

FIRST FRIDAY EUCHARISTIC ADORATION

MAY 2, 2025

"The great social saints were in reality always the great Eucharistic saints. I would like to mention just two examples chosen entirely at random...(St.) Martin (de Porres) lived from the adoration of the Lord present in the Eucharist, passing entire nights in prayer before the crucified Lord in the tabernacle, while during the day he tirelessly cared for the sick and assisted the socially outcast and despised, with whom he, as a mulatto, identified because of his origins... In our time, we can recall the person of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Wherever she opened the houses of her sisters to the service of the dying and outcast, the first thing she asked for was a place for the tabernacle, because she knew that only beginning from there, would come the strength for such service."

June 2, 2002 - Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger Lecture on "Eucharist Communion And Solidarity" at the Business' Conference of the region of Campania in Benevento, Italy

Come and join us for Eucharistic Adoration on May 2 after 6:30 PM Mass. This is your opportunity to spend some time with the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. Adoration will go throughout the night and it will end at 7 AM the following morning with Benediction. All are invited to the delicious breakfast that will be offered afterwards.

ROSARY RETREAT

SAVE THE DATE

Saturday, May 31

for a daytime Rosary Retreat at St. Anthony Church.

It’s for everyone, whether you are new to the Rosary or already pray it regularly.

Join us as we delve into the what, whys, and hows of the Rosary.

Hospitality and lunch will be served. More details coming soon.

SAS/Saint Anthony Seniors

ANNUAL MOTHER’S DAY BAKE

SALE MAY 10TH AND 11TH

It’s almost here! Our Annual Mother’s Day Bake Sale – we will have lots of homemade baked goods, jams and other items for you to enjoy. This is the Senior’s only fund-raising event – so please plan on taking home some delicious baked goods!

As before, we welcome your support by also donating your favorite bakery item – labeled, wrapped and priced for a generous donation! Proceeds from our bake sale have provided many items for our Church Community.

We thank YOU for your continued support!

THANK YOU!

Together, we changed lives this Lent through CRS Rice Bowl. THANK YOU for being a part of this effort! Don’t forget to turn in your CRS Rice Bowl at the church or donate online at crsricebowl.org/donate.

Outreach volunteered at Martha's kitchen

and sponsored the evening meal

Nine members of Outreach volunteered at Martha's Kitchen this last Monday. We worked the morning shift, and half the group were assigned to slice and dice vegetables for the upcoming evening meal. The other half of the group made sandwiches that are distributed to more than 15 Partners in Santa Clara County and beyond.

The funds for sponsoring the meals came from a grant from CRS/Rice Bowl.

Thank you for your support of the Outreach mission.

Easter Egg Hunt Photos

2025 Annual Diocesan Appeal Supporting

Our Mission Together

Our Parish Goal: $ 93,279

Week 9: $ 107,117.60 pledged by 137 Families

THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

Thanks to those who have already responded with a gift to the 2025 Annual Diocesan Appeal. There is still plenty of time to respond with a gift to this year’s Appeal. Gifts can be made through our parish office or online at www.dsj.org/ADA.

The Diocese of San Jose is asking each parish to serve for one hour during the 40 Hours Adoration at St. Martin Church in Sunnyvale. Our parish is scheduled on May 17 from 10 to 11 PM.

Please join our parish delegation in this event in praying the Lord in the Blessed Sacrament for vocations.

Jubilee Year 2025

As we begin the new year, the Universal Church embarks the beginning of the Jubilee Year 2025, marking the 2,025th anniversary of the Incarnation of our Lord.

The theme is “Pilgrims of Hope,” and it will be a year of hope for a world suffering the impacts of war, the ongoing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a climate crisis. Click here for the Jubilee Year 2025 website.

Living Our Faith in Love by The Marriage Group is the world’s most popular online, on-demand Catholic marriage prep course and can be enjoyed anytime, anywhere. The Marriage Group’s courses are promoted by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Features of the Pre-Cana:

Downloadable His and Hers Discussion Guides that will spark meaningful and deep conversation.
Presented by couples with a variety of perspectives on the vocation of marriage
Interactive Reflection Exercises to help understand the topic and its main takeaways.
Includes a Certificate of Completion.

Marriage Help – Retrouvaille (pronounced retro-vi) has helped tens of thousands of couples at all stages of disillusionment or misery in their marriage. This program can help you too. For confidential information about or to register for the May or June In-Person Marriage Program beginning with a weekend on May 2-4 or June 6-8, 2025, call 408-605-4998 , email: SanJose@RetroCA.com for more information or visit the web site at www. RetroCA.com.

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 Thursdays at 7:00 PM.

For more information, contact Corinne Jarrett at: grammycmj@gmail.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.