S , J 12. 2020

A S W O T S Jesus used down to earth stories to teach people, All could relate to them as they were very simple. They always had a hidden and profound message, That could be grasped even by those from the village. He told the people the story of a sower, Who scattered seeds in his field at an early hour. The people being farmers, they understood the story, Jesus explained to them without being in a hurry. All seeds did not fall on rich or fertile soil, Seeds that fell on good ground reaped most of his toil. Some fell on the footpath and became the birds’ food, For want of deep soil seeds died which fell on rocky ground. Still others fell among thorns and were chocked to death, A rich harvest seeds that fell on good ground brought forth. Jesus wasn’t taking a class on agriculture, The word of Word, He told them, that they should nurture. The seeds that fell on the path represent Christians, Whose understanding of the Word is in question. Jesus compares seeds which fell on the rocky ground, To those who are weak in their faith and Christian background. This is a relevant story all should ponder, Without the Word of God our life is a blunder. We can make our hearts fertile with good works and prayer, Where seeds of love will grow and yield hundred measure. Questions: 1. Which seed are you right now? 2. Would you like to change your location? 3. Are you open to conversion of heart? Reflections: One of the common accusations against Catholics is that they know are not well versed in the Bible and are largely ignorant of its content. I have not conducted a study to find out how true this is. Besides, knowing the Bible by heart or being able to quote Biblical verses from memory may not necessarily make you a better Catholic. As Jesus Himself said, a tree is known by the fruits it produces. A good disciple of Jesus should manifest his or her faith and commitment to Jesus by good deeds. We are called to translate the divinely inspired Words into our lives and live by them. It is commonly believed that Mahatma Gandhi, the father of India, got his inspiration to form his philosophy of nonviolence by reading the Beatitudes. The Word of God should challenge us, inspire us, and guide us to live by the teachings of Jesus, who lived what he preached. The question is not how much you have studied or read the Bible, but rather how much you have been impacted or influenced by it. Ignatius of Loyola was an ambitious soldier who dreamed of becoming a general one day. Being admitted to a military hospital for treatment after he was wounded in battle, he came across this verse from the New Testament, “For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul?” (Mark 8:36). Those words effected a conversion in this young man, and instead of pursuing the ambitious path of becoming an army general, he ended up becoming a valiant general in God’s army by founding in the church the Jesuits. The Catholic Church canonized him as a saint. This is how we should allow the Word of God to take roots in our hearts. With the parable of the sower, Jesus classifies His disciples into different groups based on their commitment to serve Him. Jesus, the Master Story Teller, used images and examples drawn from everyday life experiences of people with which they could easily relate. Probably during one of His many travels, which He mostly did by walking, Jesus observed a farmer sowing seeds in his fields. Even though these stories

were very simple and ordinary, they conveyed deeper meanings to His listeners. He knew that stories always capture attention and interest, which is the reason Jesus used stories in teaching the people. The hero of his story, the sower, went to his fields early in the morning and began to sow the seeds. In the process of sowing, the seeds fell in four different areas. Some of the seeds fell on the footpath. Some others fell on rocky ground. Still others fell on thorny bushes. Finally, a few others fell on rich soil. The seeds sown on the path are those who hear the word of the kingdom without understanding its meaning. For them the Word is no different from other words they read in books. They fall easy victims to the temptations of the world, and the evil one easily steals them. Their hearts are hard and the seeds cannot take roots. The seeds that fell on rocky ground are the ones who are very enthusiastic about the kingdom of God initially. They are like the people who are on fire after a good retreat. But as soon as they return home they get immersed in their daily lives and forget all about their good resolutions made during the retreat. There is no depth in their understanding of the kingdom, and their faith and convictions are very shallow. They do not find time to read and deepen the Word, as they allow themselves to be drowned in the stormy waters of their daily problems and difficulties. The seeds sown among thorns are the ones who would like to hear the word. But they are always in conflict between choosing the kingdom of the world with all its attractions, and the kingdom of heaven which, they know, can be achieved only by choosing the narrow way. Their life is full of anxiety about making more and more worldly riches, name, and fame. They look very attractive to the world, but their interior life is a different story of unhappiness, worry, and depression. The seed sown on rich soil is the kind of person Jesus is calling us to be, because his heart is like the fertile soil where seed grows into a rich harvest. His heart speaks volumes of his disposition to the Word and his attitude to God. He recognizes God. His life revolves around the Word of God and is continually nourished and nurtured by the Word. He does not read the word just once. He reads it every day because he knows that just as a human body dies without daily food and nourishment, his soul will die without the Word of God. He is on guard not to be carried away by the lure of riches or attractions of pleasures of the world. He truly understands that all he will achieve in the world will be useless, if at the end of his life, he were to lose eternal happiness. He is able to delay worldly pleasures or gratifications so that he will not miss heavenly glorification on the Day of Judgment.

M F A

www.sjapostle.net Under Parish Info, click on NEWS for all the latest updates. You’ll also find

a News link towards the bottom of the homepage.

W S Monday-Saturday Mass: 8:30am Saturday Mass: 5:00pm Sunday Masses: 8:30am, 10:00am, 12:00noon Rosary before Mass: Monday - Saturday 8:05am Saturday 4:30pm Wednesday 7:10pm Sunday 8:00am and 11:40am Respect for Life Rosary 2nd Sunday 9:30am Holy Days of Obligation: Masses 8:30am & 7:30pm Confessions: Saturday 4:00pm or by appt. Every Friday Adoration: 9:00 - 10:00am First Fridays: Adoration 9:00 am-6:30pm Sacred Heart Novena 6:30pm Benediction 7:15pm Healing Mass 7:30pm Our Mother of Mass & Novena, Perpetual Help: Wednesdays, 7:30pm D Weekly: Bible Study Wed. 9:30 am (Kitchen) Divine Mercy Chaplet: Thurs, after morning Mass In the Small Chapel: Legion of Mary Tues 9:30am Bible Study with a Difference Thurs. 7:00pm Charismatic Prayer Meeting 2nd & 3rd Fridays 7:00pm Monthly: Divine Mercy Cenacle 7:00pm, 2nd and 4th Prayer Meeting Mondays (Small Chapel) Our Lady of Vailankanni First Saturday 7:00pm Sacred Heart 6:30pm 1st Friday

P C

July 13 St. Vincent de Paul Meeting 7:00pm Fatima Celebration 7:30pm July 20 KofC Business Meeting 7:30pm July 23 Bishop Begin Assembly 3546 Bus. Mtg 7:30pm July 24 St. James Feast Day - Outdoor Mass (TBD) July 28 Pastoral Council 7:00pm Aug 3 KofC Officer’s Meeting 7:30pm Aug 9 KofC Novena Prayer for the Unborn after

10am Mass Aug 10 St. Vincent de Paul Meeting 7:00pm Aug 17 KofC Business Meeting 7:30pm Aug 25 Pastoral Council 7:00pm Aug 27 Bishop Begin Assembly 3546 Bus. Mtg 7:30pm Oct 16 International Rosary 7:00pm

On June 20, Holy Mass at St. James began to be celebrated outside. Since we’re only allowed to have 100 people inside the church, it was decided to have Mass outside so no one will be turned away. Holy Mass will be celebrated without singing and it will be short. You can attend the Mass standing, or bring your own chair. You can also attend the Mass from your cars. For a couple of Sundays we will also have live-streaming. This will help you follow the Mass using your cell phones. Having it outside will help us maintain social distancing. Please also make sure you put on your masks.

Saturday: 5:00pm, Sunday: 7:00am, 8:30am and 10:00am

8:30am weekday Mass (wear your mask)

Please remember those in the Armed Services:

Evelyn Surla (Air Force) Spec. Tara Mueller, Sgt. Kristan Jofel T. Carado, Major Jenny Ryan, Captain David Evans

And Parishioners and friends who need our prayers or who are ill.

Bob Nehls, Ron Lord, Monica Horton, Arabella Horton, Danny Powell, Cody Maisono, John DiPaola, Evelyn Reyes, Frank Smith, Concha Garcia, Deacon Ernie Dandan, Joel Rivera, Melanie O’Connor, Katherine Gomes, Lydia DeGraf, Laura Skaff, Alice Ferreira, Agnes Harris, Ray Ballin, Martha Torres

To add or update this list, send an email to

bulletin@sjapostle.net or phone the parish office at 510-792-1962 and leave a message.

KNIGHT’S CORNER Would you like to join the “Men in Blue Blazers?” The Knights of Columbus of St. James the Apostle Council No. 14541 is accepting applicants. A prospective candidate must be a practicing Catholic and at least 18 years of age. This is a great opportunity for single and married men to serve God and the parish’s community activities, set an example for its youth and make families closer to God. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Roeli Iranzo, roeli.iranzo@icloud.com, 510-825-4098. Or ask a Knight! Thank you.

We are men of faith & men of action.

I ,

S . V P 510-796-5494.

Have you checked out the Online Giving Page on the St. James website? You can go to https://www.osvhub.com/sjapostle/funds or click on the link on the page to get to Our Sunday Visitor, the organization that is managing the online giving for our parish. If you have any questions, contact Patrick Valath at (510) 579-6673 or pvalath@yahoo,com

S . J A P O H M-F 9:00 N , S 9:30 - 11:30

R P Warmest welcome to all who worship in our Community. If you are not registered in the Parish, please complete a registration form available at church entrance or at the Parish Office or drop the form below in the collection basket.

A Please call the Parish Office when a parishioner is home-bound or hospitalized to arrange for Holy Communion and Anointing of the Sick.

M B Please contact the Parish Office at least 6 months in advance for weddings and 3 months in advance for Baptisms.

B To have your child baptized, please make an appointment with Father Antony. Come to the St. James Parish office or call the Parish Office at 510-792-1962. For more details, please go to the Church website (Parish Info) or contact Marcial Vasco 650-303-7106.

Baptism Preparation/Training class: First Saturday of the month from 11:00 am - 12:30 pm in the Small Chapel. Baptism Celebration: Last Saturday of the month 11:30am-12:30pm in the church

F We recommend using Catholic Funeral and Cemetery Services / Holy Sepulchre Cemetery and Holy Angels Funeral and Cremation Services. You may contact Shirley Aldana @ 510-537-6600 X 133.

M T C R . Call 510-999-5940, email MTC@sjapostle.net, or leave a message at the Parish Office at 510-792-1962. (No prices or quotes are given over the phone or in an e-mail.)

Fr. Antony Vazhappilly, Pastor

Ernie Dandan, Deacon

We encourage you to register in the parish so that you can receive communication via email or regular mail. Registration information is essential for the office to respond to requests, send important parish and diocesan information and verify donations for tax purposes. If you need a letter of good standing to be a sponsor or Godparent for a baptism or marriage, registration is very important. Please fill out this form and place it in the collection basket and we will mail you a Parish Registration form. You can also find a registration form on the website (sjapostle.net) - Parish Info - Parish Membership. ____________________________________________ Name ____________________________________________ Address ____________________________________________ Phone Email

Welcome, New Members!

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BulletinSubscribe.aspx - (Bulletin #000268) St. James Bulletin and Website since 2007 Submission deadline is two weeks before publication date. E-mail articles to: bulletin@sjapostle.net. Send information for the webpage to: webmaster@sjapostle.net.

Carolyn Fiori ...................................................................... Editor Ericson Reduta ........................................................ Webmaster

This Week at St. James the Apostle

34700 Fremont Blvd • Fremont, CA 94555 • 510-792-1962 www.sjapostle.net •

office@sjapostle.net July 12, 2020

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