Jesus was led into the desert by the Spirit and there he fasted for forty days and

forty nights.
Matthew 4:1-11

Sunday Lent of

First

A Catholic Faith Community Since 1908 March 9, 2014

MASS TIMES
SUNDAYS: Sat. 5:30 pm (Vigil), 7:30 am, 10 am & 12 N WEEKDAYS: Mon., Tues., Fri, and Sat. 8 am (Wed. & Thurs. 8 am Communion Service) HOLY DAYS: (eve of) 5:30 pm; (day of) 8 am & 6:30 pm

St. Rita of Cascia

SACRAMENT OF RECONCILIATION
(Confession) Saturdays 4-5 pm or by appointment DEVOTIONS Our Lady of Perpetual Help: Saturday 7:50 am ADORATION First Friday 8:30 am5 pm, Rectory Oratory

Msgr. Richard Krekelberg, V.F.Pastor Deacon Manuel Valencia Deacon John Hull 318 North Baldwin Avenue, Sierra Madre Mailing Address: 50 East Alegria Avenue, Sierra Madre, CA 91024 Phone: 626/355-1292 FAX: 626/355-2290 www.st-rita.org

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENTMARCH 9, 2014

How to Contact Us
Msgr. Richard Krekelberg, V. F.Pastor
626.355.1292 x. 228 revkrek@st-rita.org Dcn. Manuel & Chela Valencia deaconmanuelvalencia@gmail.com 355.1292 Dcn. John Hulljohnhull65@gmail.com 355.1292 Weekend Presider: 10 am MassFr. Chris Thiel, OFM Capuchin Parish Office/Mailing Address 50 East Alegria Ave., Sierra Madre, CA 91024 Hours: Mon.-Fri. 9am to 6pm; Sat. 9 am to 1 pm. Office Email: ParishAdmin@st-rita.org Director of Administration Pastoral Council
Parish Office: 355.1292 Mary Lou Butler: mlbutler@st-rita.org 355.1292

Parish Ministries and Organizations

Liturgy & Worship
Lectors and Eucharistic Ministers: David & Jill Muhs 355.9810 em@st-rita.org Altar Servers, Youth: Kathy Ganino 626.398.9302 katganino@charter.net Altar Servers, Adult: Bill Cosso 355.5656 Eucharistic Adoration: Kathy Ganino 626.398.9302 katganino@charter.net Rosary Prayer Group: Susan Day 355-3835 Sacristans: Sat. Vigil: Gary Fidone/Bill & Patti Huber Sunday Masses: 7:30-Bill Cosso/David Banis; 10:00-David Muhs; 12N-Bernie Grace Weekdays: John Bigley, Margaret Duran Porter: (Evening Church Lockup) Sheila Palazzolo Environment: Denise Villalovos/Gil Lazo gil@st-rita.org 355.1292

Ministries & Organizations

Bereavement Ministry: 355.1292 bereave@st-rita.org Christian Family: Ana Ptasinski 355.3146 Greeters & Ushers: Erny Henry 626.289.3504 626.446.6715 Mens Club: Nick Sotis: 358-2495 nick.sotis@pro-sites.net New Members/Welcome: Contact the Parish Office St. Rita Guild: Patty Sullivan 355.3707 psullivan514@gmail.com Senior Ministry: Marilyn McKernan, marilyn@st-rita.org Shawl Ministry: Mary Taillac 355.3179 Marilyn Delgatto 355.8717

Finance Council Chair

Bill Sullivan: 355.3707

St. Rita SchoolOffice: 626.355.6114 Director of Liturgy & Music

Paul Puccinelli: mm@st-rita.org

Principal: Joanne Harabedian jharabedian@st-rita.org

Other Contacts
Archivist: Marilyn McKernan marilyn@st-rita.org Bulletin Submissions: bulletin@st-rita.org or drop off at Office Public Relations: ParishAdmin@st-rita.org Registration Information: rc@st-rita.org 355.1292 Webmaster: Ralph Seymour: seymour@seymourmedia.com

Director of Religious Education

Cristina Cullen: 355.3841 dre@st-rita.org

Director of Youth Ministry/Confirmation

Theresa Bui Costanzo: 626.590.8828 ym@st-rita.org

RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults)

Team: Deacon Manuel and Chela Valencia; Susan Blakeslee: rcia@st-rita.org

Let Saint Rita Be There For You . . .

Communion for Sick and Homebound Parishioners
St. Rita ministers provide Communion home visits. Contact the Parish Office 355.1292 or Jill Muhs 355.9810 em@st-rita.org.

For Information about the Sacraments

Baptism
If you are a parishioner interested in baptizing your child, please contact the Parish Office for further information on the Baptism process and requirements.

Anointing of the Sick

Please notify us (355.1292) as early as possible for the Anointing of the Sick, the sacrament intended for the seriously ill or dying. It is Our Lords special presence and companionship in serious time of need. Anointing may take place in the home, at the hospital or elsewhere and as often as once a month. If someone should die without anointing, remember that the desire to receive is sufficient and the Lord cares!

Reconciliation and First Eucharist

Preparation for children who have attained the age of reason (usually during 2nd grade) is arranged either through the Office of Religious Education or St. Rita Elementary School.

Matrimony

If You Should Experience the Loss of a Loved One

Please call us at 355.1292 If you feel you will be in need, or your loved one has passed, we will assist in making arrangements with your chosen funeral directors; refer you to our liturgy and music directors; and offer you helpful guidelines and a book that will aid in the selection of readings for the Mass or Memorial Service. Areas we can help you with prior to the passing may help in the planning of funeral services. We know that this can be a tough time and we want you to know that your parish is there for you. PLEASE UNDERSTAND we only have one resident priest; sometimes arrangements for another priest may be needed.

Contact the Parish Office upon engagement; at least six months is needed for preparation of this joyous sacrament!

Confirmation
A two-year program for freshman/sophomore age teens. Apply through the Office of Religious Education.

NOTE: Adult applicants for the sacraments should contact the Parish Office.

Anointing of the Sick See adjoining column.

SAINT RITA
REV. MSGR. RICHARD KREKELBERG

OF

CASCIA CHURCH

PASTORS CORNER

Dear Parishioners,
One of the things Jesus quotes to the devil is:

The Lord Your God Shall you Worship and Him Alone Shall You Serve.
LENT is certainly about getting back on track and SERVING HIM ALONE is the track we want to return to. For the next forty days every tendency for decision making and action taking that we have should be up for examination and review. All should be carefully scrutinized as acceptable because it is in service to the Lord alone or as unacceptable because in truth it is part of some other agenda in service to whatever else. FASTING, ALMSGIVING, and PRAYER is the stuff of Lent. And regarding these three elements, we were advised on Ash Wednesday:

Now is the acceptable time. Now is the moment of Salvation!

This is LENT 2014. It will not be given to us again. Now is the acceptable time. What is more, if we do not personally desire conversionrestoration of the mind and heart to GodI advise, we might as well skip Lent altogether. Preparing to celebrate Jesus resurrection worthily is nothing short of the practice of a lifetime. Imagine yourself at the hour of death. What would give us more assurance than that we had spent our lives preparing for the Resurrection of the Dead by always returning to the Lord with all our hearts?

On the journey with youMsgr. Richard

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENTMARCH 9, 2014

PARISHIONERS WHO REQUEST OUR PRAYERS FOR HEALING AND RETURN TO GOOD HEALTH

SATURDAY, MARCH 8 SUNDAY, MARCH 9

8:00 AM Michael Cabasag RIP 5:30 PM For All Parishioners

MONDAY, MARCH 10 TUESDAY, MARCH 11

8:05 AM 8:05 AM 8:05 AM

7:30 AM Juanita Cabasag RIP 10:00 AM Peter R. Solensen RIP 12 NOON Diane Lee McNamara RIP Phil Petek RIP Rev. Msgr. Joseph Alzugaray RIP Communion Service

Leah Greteman, Raymond Payne, Peter Delgatto, Jr., Montserrat Marti, Jordan Alabart, Linda Milligan, Susan Skousen, Brooke Manning, Jacque Daust, Arthur Contreras, Jr., Robert Quinonez, Richard Krier, Patsy Starkey, Margaret & David Duran, Jean Mansour, Jacob Bigley, Gerald Krekelberg, Dorothy Van Gorden, Maria Carmen Marti, Dennis & Clare Marquardt, Kathleen Ramsey, Tonyja Blakeslee, Addie Marshall, Jackie Bagnuolo, Mary Ellen Isoard, Rose Mary Taquino, Paul Viger, Zdenka Czerny, Hal Finney, Ailey Gardner-Ybarra, Cathy Hundshamer, Eva Bernejo, Edith Olah, Lancelot Loera, Fred Mycroft, Brian Eck, Alex Arranaga, Anna Mary Hession, Joseph Moore.

(cousin of parishioner Robert Navarro)

Vincent Cabasag

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12 THURSDAY, MARCH 13 FRIDAY, M ARCH 14

8:05 AM

Opportunities for Spiritual Growth

Lenten Weekly Bible Study Mater Dolorosa Retreat Center 10 am & again at 7 pm Leader: Jean Bowler, a graduate of the Catholic Bible Institute Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) 7:30 pm Parish Office Meeting Room Catholicism Series Thursday, March 13 Parish Office Meeting Room 2-3:15 pm
See page 5 for more information.

8:05 AM Communion Service John Moran RIP

SATURDAY, MARCH 15 SUNDAY, MARCH 16

8:00 AM Sean Lydon RIP 5:30 PM Raymond Payne INT

Monday, March 10

7:30 AM For All Parishioners 10:00 AM Steve Purner RIP 12 NOON Wendy Wolf Fadel RIP

Tuesday, March 11

TODAYS READINGS
First ReadingThe man and the woman ate the fruit of the one tree that God had told them to avoid, and their shame overtook them
(Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7).

PsalmBe merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned (Psalm 51). Second ReadingDeath reigned from Adam to Moses, but now grace and life abound in Christ Jesus (Romans 5:12-19 [12, 17-19]). GospelJesus was led into the desert by the Spirit and there he fasted for forty days and forty nights (Matthew 4:1-11).

Liturgy of the Hours Evening Prayer Thursday, March 13 5 pm Music & Meditation 5:30 pm Prayer Oratory in the Parish Office St. Rita Thursday Bible Study
Will resume in mid-May

Catholicism Series Thursday, March 13 Parish Office Meeting Room 2 - 3:15 pm If you werent able to attend this dynamic and informative series when it was first offered at St. Rita, give yourself the gift of learning more about your faith from this beautifully researched and filmed series by Fr. Robert Barron. Susan Blakeslee will be available to answer any questions at the end of each video. This series will continue to be offered on each Thursday during Lent, until Holy Thursday. You may attend all or any number of the seriesyou will not be lost if you did not see a previous presentation.
Marilyn McKernan 355-1292 x233 marilyn@st-rita.org

SAINT RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH

&
Edge Monday, March 10 , 4 pm, Gara Youth DayThursday, March 13, Anaheim Youth NiteWednesday, March 26 God is Not DeadMovie night at the Arcadia AMC Theresa Costanzo ym@st-rita.org
91 Years of Faith, Excellence, and Stewardship

St. Rita Catholic School

A Catholic Education is an Advantage for Life

At St. Rita School, parents are partners with us in the academic gains, spiritual development and overall growth of our students. It is often said that the classroom is a place where miracles happen. That is indeed true at St. Rita School, where young people who are small miracles develop into bigger miracles. Did you know that St. Rita 8th grade graduates are accepted into their first choice of high schoolsLaSalle, Loyola, St. Francis, Mayfield, Flintridge-Sacred Heart, Alverno, Immaculate Heart, Damien, St. Lucys and Bishop Amat? Our students excel in academics and extra-curricular activities at all high schools of their choice. St. Rita School is now accepting applications for Junior Kindergarten through 5th Grade. St. Rita School Open House Friday, March 28 6:00 - 7:30 pm Join our parents during this annual event featuring the academic, spiritual, and creative art exhibits of all students in TK-8. Fingerprinting Information for VIRTUS St. Rita Mens Annual Retreat March 28-30 If you have reservations about going, you may not get one! Dont wait to sign up. Contact one of the men listed below
Bill Cosso 355-5656 bill@cosso.net Dave Muhs 355-9810 Duncan MacGillivray 355-0762 Gary Miller 355-6440 Pat Wickhem 416-8824 Rich McCoppin 355-2871 Rudy Van Cleef 355-8169

children ages 3-5 in the St. Rita School Library, above Gara Hall. The children experience friendship, eat a snack, and participate in a simple lesson. No reservations needed. We do ask participating families to sign up for one Sunday to help with supervision and snacks. Cristina Cullen dre@st-rita.org

Sunday School is held during the 10 am Mass for

Saturday, March 15, noon-3:40 pm & 5:20-7:00 pm. Sacred Heart Church, 2889 Lincoln Ave., Altadena. Must call for appointment: 626/794-2046 Wednesday, March 19, noon-3:40 pm & 5:20-7:20 pm. St. Elizabeth School, 1840 N. Lake Ave., Altadena. Must call for appointment: 626/797-7727

School Office 355-6114

St. Rita Fun Run

Sunday, Mar. 16 at 8 am
Billy Sullivan 355-3707 Tim OConnor 355-5053

To our new parishioners who joined our Faith Community in January and February The Breitschwerdt Family Karen & Courtney Finello John, Caitlin, Peyton & Harper Guthrie Lisa, Luke & Robert Heiberg Devon, Frances & Charlotte Jobes Lee, Lisa, Megan & Jacqueline Kuo Alvaro (Sr.) & Margarita Orjuela Ramon (Jr.), Erin, Lauren, Emily, & Matthew Oseguera Gary, Lily (Torres), Matthew & Sophie Rapkin Luis, Jessica (Jamora), Jadyn (Jamora) & Kailee Ruano Ernie, Lydia, Savannah, & Hannah Suarez Stephen (III), Rebecca, Asher, Levi, & Benjamin Terni Calum , Helen (OConnor), Alexander & Eilioh Torrie

St. Patrick/St. Joseph Spaghetti Dinner

Sunday, March 16 from 4:30-7:30 pm in OMalley Hall. Make your reservations now. Forms in the Vestibule & the Parish Office. Nick Sotis 358-2495 nick.sotis@pro-sites.com

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENTMARCH 9, 2014

This Week at St. Rita

This Sunday March 9 Daylight Saving Time Begins Set your clocks forward one hour. Monday, March 10Bible Study at Mater Dolorosa
See page 4 for more information.

Lenten Fast and Abstinence Obligations

Abstinence: Those 14 years of age and older must abstain from eating meat on Fridays during Lent. Fish and shellfish are allowed. Fasting: Requires those from the 18th birthday to the 59th birthday to reduce the amount of food eaten from normal. The Church defines this as one meal a day, and two smaller meals which do not exceed the main meal in quantity.

Stations of the Cross & Soup Kitchen

St. Rita Parish will pray together the Stations of the Cross each Friday during Lent. The Stations begin at 6:15 pm this Friday, March 14. After Stations each Friday, join us in Gara Hall for a Soup Kitchen sponsored this week by Catholic Familiesa time to eat a simple meal & visit with fellow parishioners. By having a simple meal in place of our regular mealand donating the proceeds to charitywe fast and we give to those in need. Please plan to join us on Fridays during Lent! Daily ReflectionsIn the Vestibule, you will find the booklet Gods Abiding Love by Henri Nouwen. The parish is furnishing these booklets to help you on your spiritual journey during Lent.

See page 4 for more information.

Tuesday, March 11RCIA

St. Rita Bible Studyresumes in mid-May Thursday, March 13Catholicism Series

Parish Office Meeting Room 2 pm See page 4 for more information.

Thursday, March 13Evening Prayer See page 4 for more information. Friday, March 14Stations of the Cross and Soup Kitchen
See adjoining column.

Save the Date

Sunday, March 16Mens Club Events: Fun Run & Spaghetti Dinner
See page 5 or more information.

Catholic Community & Local Events

The Celebrant SingersThis Sunday, Mar. 9, 3 pm,
Annunciation Parish. An international, interdenominational missionary group, founded in 1977, spreads the Gospel through contemporary Christian music. Featuring ten singers with a twelve-piece orchestra. Free. Annunciation Church Hall, 1307 E. Longden, Arcadia. L.I.F.E. Breakfast and LectureThursday, Mar. 13, Santa Teresita, Madonna Hall. David Gutkind, P.T., will present information on physical therapy. Breakfast buffet at 8:30; $4.50 for those over 55; $5.50 all others. Santa Teresita, 819 Buena Vista, Duarte 91010. Reservations/info: 626-256-3059 St. Joseph TableMarch 15 & 16, Holy Angels. The Italian Catholic Federation will prepare a Table and an altar of flowers, fruit, baked goods, and traditional Italian foods. A pasta dinner will be served after the 5 pm Sat. Mass and again on Sunday until 3 pm. Free will offering. Info: Chairman JoAnn Howell 626/485-4261 St. Patricks Day PartyMon., Mar. 17, 11am - 2 pm at Avila Gardens. A complimentary lunch followed by the Hidden Fifth band and traditional Irish dance by members of Celtic Spring. Avila Gardens, Duarte. Info: administrator@avilagardens.com 626/499-2214

March 28-30St. Rita Mens Annual Retreat

See page 5 for more information.

Saturday, March 29St. Rita School Father-Daughter Dance

Tickets on sale in the School Office 355-6113

Start cleaning your closets for St. Vincent de Paul truck.

Sunday, April 6Bundle Sunday

Saturday, April 12St. Rita School PTO Wine Social

Watch for flyer in next weeks Bulletin.

ST. RITA OF CASCIA CHURCH

Together in Mission (TIM)
We are entering the third week of this Annual Appeal. We hope you have taken the time to read the materials that were either delivered to your home or distributed at the weekend Masses. (There are still handouts and pledge envelopes available in the Vestibule.) And have you checked out the TIM website? OurMissionLA.org You can watch a short video featuring some of the recipients of help for their schools and parishes as well as track the progress of the Archdiocesan Appeal. The Together in Mission Foundation is chartered to distribute donations ONLY to schools and parishes throughout our Archdiocese who are unable to fully support themselves. And yet these same recipient parishes also are assessed and asked to contribute to TIMand often meet their goal! (We did not meet our 2013 goal at St. Rita and our participation rate was less than 19% of registered parishioners.) As our Pastor has stated more than once recently, we need to participate as our response to Stewardship. It is not the amount you give but that you participate. Together in Mission Status Report

7
$59,922.12 $16,740.00 $ 1,065.00 $17,805.00

As of March 4, 2014

Our assessed goal: Number of repeat donors (37): Amount pledged/donated: Number of new donors (10): Amount pledged/donated: TOTAL RECEIVED TO DATE:

Number of parish families (1266) PERCENTAGE OF PARTICIPATION: 4% PERCENTAGE OF GOAL: 30%

Request for Donations for Tax Year 2013

Please fill out the form below & drop it in the Offering basket or mail to the Parish Office, 50 E. Alegria, SM 91024. Oremail to rc@st-rita.org NOTE: No telephone requests will be accepted.
Name Address Phone Parish ID

Thank you for your consideration.

Please print neatlythank you!