Parish UPDATE: Sept. 23

Beloved of God and of this parish:

As I write this UPDATE, the Shuttle Endeavour is making its flyover across Southern California in celebration of many years in active space exploration. Eventually, it will "rest" at the California ScienCenter. Why this introduction? Because, it is a dream come true for those who conceived the idea of the ScienCenter twenty years ago - that a Space Shuttle would eventually "rest" here. Twenty years later, that dream is coming true. Goes to show that dreams come true with grace, time, hard work, good friends and determination. So I urge you friends to hold your dreams alive: "For thus says the LorD: For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope. Then when you call upon me and come and pray to me, I will hear you.[Jeremiah 29:11-12]

THIS SUNDAY, SEPT. 23

Following the 10 am Mass, we will have our monthly Parish Forum. Items on the agenda include: 

• updates on the Neighborhood Block party and opportunities for volunteer work
• updates on the work of the Vestry

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Fr. Vincent would begin his annual vacation on Monday, October 1. He will return to the parish on Monday, October 29. In Fr. Vincent's absence, Sandra Dyson, Senior Warden and Anthony Joseph, Junior Warden would guide the work of the parish per the Constitution and Canons of the Episcopal Church, the Diocese of Los Angeles and of this parish. Please, keep them in your prayers and support their work.
• Br. (Fr.) Derek, SSF would preside over the celebration of Mass and bless the animals on Sunday, October 7. Br. Derek would also preside over the sacrifice of the Mass on Sunday, October 14.
• Parish Fundraiser: Our next parish fundraiser is scheduled for Saturday, November 10. Please, remember to bring the best rummage you can find, volunteer in this effort so we can raise funds to support the work and ministries of this part of God's kingdom.

SOMETHING TO INSPIRE YOU:

From the Forward Day by Day meditation for today, Sept. 21: Feast of St. Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist.

Matthew 9:9-13. Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?

Jesus had a habit of doing ministry at wedding banquets and feasts, and referencing these in parables. In this, Jesus particularly brings the outcast and untouchables to the table to eat, for all are welcome at God’s table. Clearly, this made the religious and political authorities of his day uncomfortable, because they were directly implicated in what was wrong with the status quo.

In heeding Jesus’ call to expand the banquet table, we might be stretched to speak, eat, or worship with someone who might cause us discomfort. Despite having grown up in the United States, I experienced the feeling of not being welcome on a number of occasions, due to my name and ethnic background. Had I been undocumented, like my father was, I may have experienced even harsher treatment. My father, sensing God’s invitation that transcends borders, overcame language, economic, and physical barriers to support his family.

Because God’s banquet table is ever-expansive, Jesus delivers a resounding message—everybody’s in, no one is out. On the feast day of Saint Matthew, rather than worry about who Jesus eats with, why not just sit down and enjoy the meal?

COMMUNITY NEWS

1. For news about the Diocese of Los Angeles, please go to www.ladiocese.org

2. For news about Palms and information re:election to the Board of Palms Neighborhood Council, please go to www.palmsla.org If you live, worship or work in Palms, you are a stakeholder, consider running for office and help improve our community so it can be safe for everyone especially for those raising children.

3. For the latest update on the Expo Line, please go to www.buildexpo.org

Remember: Live like Christ; Love like Christ; Give (of yourself) like Christ and, Die like Christ so you can be raised like Christ.

See you at God's ever-expansive banquet table on Sunday with your friends.

Fr. Vincent

www.stmarypalms.org

 

... ""Every Christian needs a half hour of prayer each day, except when he is busy, then he needs an hour." - Saint Francis of Sales "

One more reason to be a Christian

Saturday, September 22, 2012 St. Lawrence Ruiz and Companions (1600?-1637)

Lawrence (Lorenzo) was born in Manila of a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, both Christians. Thus he learned Chinese and Tagalog from them and Spanish from the Dominicans whom he served as altar boy and sacristan. He became a professional calligrapher, transcribing documents in beautiful penmanship. He was a full member of the Confraternity of the Holy Rosary under Dominican auspices. He married and had two sons and a daughter. His life took an abrupt turn when he was accused of murder. Nothing further is known except the statement of two Dominicans that "he was sought by the authorities on account of a homicide to which he was present or which was attributed to him." At that time three Dominican priests, Antonio Gonzalez, Guillermo Courtet and Miguel de Aozaraza, were about to sail to Japan in spite of a violent persecution there. With them was a Japanese priest, Vicente Shiwozuka de la Cruz, and a layman named Lazaro, a leper. Lorenzo, having taken asylum with them, was allowed to accompany them. But only when they were at sea did he learn that they were going to Japan. They landed at Okinawa. Lorenzo could have gone on to Formosa, but, he reported, "I decided to stay with the Fathers, because the Spaniards would hang me there." In Japan they were soon found out, arrested and taken to Nagasaki. The site of wholesale bloodshed when the atomic bomb was dropped had known tragedy before. The 50,000 Catholics who once lived there were dispersed or killed by persecution. They were subjected to an unspeakable kind of torture: After huge quantities of water were forced down their throats, they were made to lie down. Long boards were placed on their stomachs and guards then stepped on the ends of the boards, forcing the water to spurt violently from mouth, nose and ears. The superior, Antonio, died after some days. Both the Japanese priest and Lazaro broke under torture, which included the insertion of bamboo needles under their fingernails. But both were brought back to courage by their companions. In Lorenzo's moment of crisis, he asked the interpreter, "I would like to know if, by apostatizing, they will spare my life." The interpreter was noncommittal, but Lorenzo, in the ensuing hours, felt his faith grow strong. He became bold, even audacious, with his interrogators. The five were put to death by being hanged upside down in pits. Boards fitted with semicircular holes were fitted around their waists and stones put on top to increase the pressure. They were tightly bound, to slow circulation and prevent a speedy death. They were allowed to hang for three days. By that time Lorenzo and Lazaro were dead. The three Dominican priests, still alive, were beheaded. Pope John Paul II canonized these six and 10 others, Asians and Europeans, men and women, who spread the faith in the Philippines, Formosa and Japan. Lorenzo Ruiz is the first canonized Filipino martyr. COMMENT: We ordinary Christians of today—how would we stand up in the circumstances these martyrs faced? We sympathize with the two who temporarily denied the faith. We understand Lorenzo's terrible moment of temptation. But we see also the courage—unexplainable in human terms—which surged from their store of faith. Martyrdom, like ordinary life, is a miracle of grace. QUOTE: When government officials asked, "If we grant you life, will you renounce your faith?," Lorenzo responded: "That I will never do, because I am a Christian, and I shall die for God, and for him I will give many thousands of lives if I had them. And so, do with me as you please."