Mayor Villaraigosa at Iman Center: Jan. 5

I am forwarding this email to you in the hope that you might be able to attend this meeting or spread the word about it . See the attached flier for more details.

I plan on attending and would like to encourage you to attend as well.

Fr. Shamo

Forwarded Message:

Come meet the Mayor and ask him questions about his efforts in our neighborhood!  Food and beverages will be provided.  Please come arrive at 6:30 pm so the meeting can promptly start at 7pm.  Please RSVP back with number of people who  plan on attending so we can make sure we have seats for everyone.

Thanks!
--
Natasha Ericta

Palms Neighborhood Council, Residential Representative

palmswest@palmsla.org

New Year wishes

Beloved of God and of this parish:

As the year 2010 draws to a close, I would like to take this opportunity to THANK each and everyone of you, for your faithfulness, generous giving, commitment and dedication [among others] to :  

• [the cause of] the God whose incarnation [and epiphany] we celebrate at this time,
• the mission and ministries of this parish. Your generosity and hardwork makes our common life and shared witness possible,
• our collective striving towards the rebuilding of God's reign so all shall enjoy the grace of justice, dignity, transformation, healing, spiritual growth and wholeness,
• our desire to keep the fire of faith burning and transforming the lives of our youth and children as they face the challenges of this and their generation.

As a faith community and as individuals, let us begin another year [2011] in hope and renewed zeal to grow in loving service to God. As you dream your biggest dream for yourself and your family, please remember to dream one more dream for God so together we can help birth and sing a new community into being. 

Have a blessed and fruitful New Year. See you all at Mass.

Fr. Vincent Shamo

Vicar

www.stmarypalms.org

2010 CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE:

2010 CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE

1. Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24: Carol singing begins at7:30pm. Mass begins at 8pm.

2. Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25: Mass at 10am

3. First Sunday after Christmas , December 26: Mass at 10am; followed by potluck brunch. Bring some food to share.

4. Christmas week: Morning Prayer at 8:45; Mass at 9am

5. Friday, December 31: Morning Prayer at 8:45am; Mass at 9am

New Year's Eve: No Mass BUT Church will be open from 9pm to 12amfor private prayer and meditation

6. Saturday, New Year's Day: Mass of the Holy Name at 9am.

FR. VINCENT SHAMO

Announcing New Programs at St. Mary

Here are some new programs currently running at St. Mary:

1. Bible Study on Wednesday from 7 - 8pm in the Chapel. Class is completing work on the Book of Nehemiah.  Now reading Chapter 12.  Class open to all who are interested in learning more about God's redeeming and unconditional love for humanity. Join us if you can.

2. Want to know more about your faith and how to live the christian life. Join us at our new Discipleship and Newcomers class after the 9am Mass on Saturday.

3. Presently considering offering the following additional programs based on interest:

• Martial Arts for teens on weekdays after school ending before 5pm
• Hispanic/Latino Mass on Saturday at 5pm
• Community Meal and Conversation featuring a Speaker on issues of current interest. 

The Parish of St. Mary in Palms is beyond denominationalism.

Have questions? Call Fr. Shamo at 310-558-4124 or post a comment on this blog. 

Parish Update: 12/19

Beloved of God and of this parish:

Here is an UPDATE of what is making news in our parish this week and will be making news in the coming weeks.

1. SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19: [THREE EVENTS]

This is the last Vestry meeting of the year. Vestrymembers are encouraged to attend MASS that day and stay for the meeting.

• It is time to renew our COMMITMENT to God, our family and our non-parish community. It would be helpful if we have all pledge/commitment cards by the First Sunday of Christmas so  we can complete the budget process by year's end. If you have not already received your pledge/commitment card, please talk with Phyllis after Mass on Sunday or arrange to have your card sent to you in the course of next week. Please, remember to pick your box of pledge envelopes after Mass on Sunday. Our pledges and commitments make the ministries of this parish and mission to partner with God in the rebuilding of lives and his world possible. God generously gives us his Son to be our redeemer, let us give generously to support his reign and his work in our lifetime. We are grateful for your commitment to this cause to the glory of God. 

• Decorating for Christmas: If you can help with decorating the church in readiness for Christmas, show up during the week between Tuesday and Thursday. Thanks for any help you can give.

• During coffee-hour, we will celebrate the 82nd birthday of Gerda Morinaka. Please, surprise and congratulate her if you can.

2. CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE:

• MASS on Christmas Eve, Friday, December 24 will be at 8pm

• MASS on Christmas Day, Saturday, December 25 will be at 10am

• MASS on First Sunday after Christmas Day will be at 10am to be followed with our signature potluck brunch. Please, bring whatever you can by way of main dish, desserts, gifts for the children of the parish and a joyful spirit. 

• NEW YEAR'S EVE: Friday, December 31. Church will be opened from 10pm to Midnight for private prayer and meditation. The sacrifice of the Mass will not be offered during this period.

• NEW YEAR'S DAY: Saturday, January 1. MASS of the HOLY NAME will be offered at 9am. 

Please, plan on attending as many of the above events as you can and bring your friends to join in the celebrations. NO CELEBRATION IS COMPLETE AND JOYOUS WITHOUT OUR FRIENDS.

3. COMING EVENTS IN JANUARY 2011:

• Sunday, January 2: Second Sunday after Christmas Day

• Sunday, January 9: First Sunday after the Epiphany (Baptism of OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST). The youth of the parish will lead the Offertory and Presentation of the Gifts with the traditional gifts presented by the wisemen (wise-persons). It is time to support our children in their spiritual formation as we each present out life as gifts to God.

• Sunday, January 16: First Vestry meeting of 2011 and time to hear our audit reports in preparation for the annual Parish General Meeting. 

• Sunday, January 23: Our ANNUAL PARISH GENERAL MEETING. The first in the potluck-brunch series. We need someone to coordinate this event - setting up, designing meeting hall with appropriate signage, food and to encourage active parish-wide participation. It will look good on your resume as Events Organizer or Coordinator. If you can help, please, call Phyllis in the parish office ASAP.

• Sunday, January 30: Our first PARISH FORUM for 2011. We will have conversations around the book:"Living a Eucharistic Spirituality" by Oscar Lukefahr, C.M. If you have not already bought your copy, buy your copy now for ONLY$2. See Phyllis or Fr. Shamo. 

4: THANK YOU

In spite of global and economic challenges that faced us and many in 2010, all of us have remained faithful disciples of Jesus Christ, generously supported the ministries of this parish and the reign of God. Our individual and collective prayers, our presence at Mass and parish events, our faithfulness have transformed many lives; your parish leadership team and me personally are grateful for your witness. Let us strive even much more harder in this discipleship project in the coming year.

See you at Mass with your life-enhancing stories, your anxieties and a willing attitude to permit God to transform these to his honor and glory. TO GOD BE ALL THE GLORY, ALWAYS!!

Fr. Shamo

www.stmarypalms.org 

Parish Update: Sept. 12

1. ORDINATION SILVER JUBILEE MASS: SUNDAY, SEPT. 12
Please, plan on joining our parish this Sunday, as we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Fr. Vincent Shamo's ordination to the priesthood. Any anniversary is worth celebrating, especially an Ordination Silver Jubilee. Festive food will be potluck so it can truly be our parish's event. Please, bring your family, friends and favorite dish. We anticipate a fair amount of guests to this event; please welcome everyone as Christ. 

We welcome especially, Bishop Ed Mackenzie, former Bishop of Johannesburg, South Africa;  Rev. Canon Connor Lynn, Rector Emeritus; Rev. Canon Cyprian Fields; Rev. Brian McHugh; Jay Launt (former Senior Warden); Canon Randy Kimmler, L. A. Diocese Missioner for Vocations.

Pray for your priest, his family, his ministry among us and indeed for all bishops, priests, deacons and all who are discerning vocations to various ministries in God's kingdom.

2. MORNING PRAYER ON SUNDAY

Morning Prayer will be prayed [each Sunday] at 9:45am to be immediately followed with Mass. Plan on arriving early to join in this worship service or join in quietly if you arrive after 9:45am and Morning Prayer is being prayed. The church encourages everyone to pray daily at least Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer. As a parish, we endorse  and affirm the importance of this spiritual discipline.

3. BIBLE STUDY ON WEDNESDAY

Mid-week Bible Study has moved FROM Wednesday Noon TO Wednesday 7pm. We meet in the Chapel. We are presently exploring the Book of Nehemiah [In the Old Testament]. The preferred bible translation is the New Revised Standard Version [NRSV]. If you do not have this translation, please, come with what you have.
Required: A willingness to explore God's word with others. Notebooks and pens would be provided to participants. NO EXAMS AND PAPERS TO WRITE. You can support this project by: donating refreshment, attending the sessions with your friends and by spreading the word.

Always grateful for your ministry within our parish and your commitments to christian discipleship and  to the mission of God's reign in our community and generation. The Christian life is not lived in isolation!!

4. GROUNDS MAINTENANCE:
Work is progressing steadily on improving our "grounds". For now, one portion of the lawn has been put on an automatic sprinkler; we will work on the other portions as funds become available. Eventually, we hope to have more color around the church. If you are able to contribute towards this project, please, make your check to "St. Mary" and put in the memo column "grounds project". 

5. PEACE AND JUSTICE COMMISSION ANNOUNCEMENT

Rosaries for the Sick: Beginning Sunday, September 19, the Peace and Justice Commission [of this parish] will begin classes on making rosaries and prayer beads to be given to parents of children who are hospitalized and those receiving chemotherapy. Please join us on the patio after Mass as we begin this exciting ministry.

COME TO THE BANQUET OF THE LORD.

Fr. Vincent Shamo

www.stmarypalms.org

Parish Update: August 29

Beloved of God and of this parish:

1. TIME FOR THANKSGIVING:
Let me take this opportunity to thank [again] all who provided food, music and worked hard to make our patronal feast a success. May the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of God and all the saints of God intercede for us so we may obtain the needed graces to grow in faith and in our baptismal vows.

2. THIS SUNDAY, August 29:
(a) Serving:
Joanna Cory [EM1]; Joe Gaynor [EM2]; Peter Braganca [Thurifer]; Elliott Ryder [Lector]; Bea Boggess [Prayer of the Faithful]; Angela and Simone [Oblation bearers]; Simone Bookman [Usher]; The Joseph Family [Post-Mass refreshments].

(b)  Parish Forum:
Our  parish forum this Sunday will focus on: outreach to Hispanic community; parish finances and related issues; Peace and Justice Commission survey;  parish awards;  annual rummage sale; Ordination Silver Jubilee Mass on Sunday, Sept, 12,  plus much exciting news to share. Our Vestry will entertain what questions you may have. Please, endeavor to come to Mass and stay for the Forum. It is our parish, let us show a sense of ownership. Our parish is part of God's reign, let us support its ministries and the mission of the church.

3. GROUNDS MAINTENANCE:
Work is progressing steadily on improving our "grounds". For now, one portion of the lawn will be put on an automatic sprinkler until we have enough money to work on the other portions. Eventually, we hope to have more color around the church. If you are able to contribute towards this project, please, make your check to St. Mary and put in the memo column "grounds project".

4. OF YOUR CHARITY:
Please, intercede for the following: Birthdays: Phyllis Thomas [August 30]; Chelsea (Daley) Adams [Sept. 1]; Mark Kennedy [Sept. 2]. Recovering from recent unwellness: John Dadzie, Anthony and Jai; Brenda and Tony. Illness: Gene Boggess, Mrs. Philip Chand, Kay Burleigh.

Noticeable UPCOMING CHANGES:
1. Beginning Sunday, Sept. 5, Morning Prayer will be prayed [each Sunday] in the church beginning at 9:45am to be immediately followed by Mass. All of us need time to "quieten down" and be "centered" before Mass. Please, prayerfully join in and spend some time preparing yourself for Mass.

2. Bible Study will be moving FROM Wednesday Noon to 1pm TO Wednesday 7pm beginning September 8. We will meet in the Chapel. We will begin exploring the Book of Nehemiah [In the Old Testament]. The preferred bible translation is the New Revised Standard Version [NRSV]. If you do not have this translation, please, come with what you have.

Required: A willingness to explore God's word with others. Notebooks and pens would be provided to participants. NO EXAMS AND PAPERS TO WRITE. You can support this project by: donating refreshment, attending the sessions with your friends and by spreading the word.

Always grateful for your ministry within our parish and your commitments to christian discipleship and  to the mission of God's reign in our community and generation. The Christian life is not lived in isolation!!

See you at God's banquet table with all that we are.

Fr. Shamo
www.stmarypalms.org