Community

Dear brothers and sisters,

 

Last night I watched a movie.  It was the title that attracted my attention - Heaven Is For Real.

 

The movie began with a girl doing painting on a big sheet of canvas with a footnote that she lives in Lithuania.  I goggled the place,  it's a small country in Europe.  She only appeared in the beginning of the movie for a brief moment and never appeared again until in the end of the movie.  The story quickly moved to a town in Nebraska where the family of a small boy's trip to heaven and back was unfolded.

 

The boy had gone to heaven during his surgery in hospital.  While on operating table he had seen his father cursed God in the hospital chapel.  He had seen his mother making nervous phone calls.   In heaven, he had seen/spoken to angels, his grand fathers, etc.  He also had sit at Jesus' lap.   His story stirred up the church community because people did not believe the boy and the family.  His father (repair garage door business man) is the minister of the church.  Because the boy's story, he was told the church might seek another one to replace him.  The boy has a sister.  In school, 她受了很多的嘲笑 because her brother's encounter with God.  His parents 也為此事弄得不和.  The father believed  his son's story but the mother did not until a day that she had conversation with the boy.  那天the boy asked her "Mommy did you know I have a sister?"    His mother said yes of course you have a sister.  The boy said no, I have another one, I have 2 sisters.  原來她有個孩子在將岀生前已經是胎死腹中.     這事情the boy did not know.   The boy said this sister was running to him and kissing him.

 

The boy's father asked him many questions about heaven and Jesus.  He showed the boy many pictures of Jesus that you and I had seen from the religious books but none of them the boy said looked like the one he had met in heaven. 

 

Near the end of movie, one day his father goggled the web and found the girl whom I mentioned in the beginning of my email.  The girl had a similar experience like the boy when she was 4 years old.  She is a bigger girl now and does painting very well.  She had painted the figure of Jesus, the face of what she had seen HIM in heaven.   When the father asked the boy to come and look the computer monitor screen, the boy immediately said yes, that is what Jesus looked like in heaven.  The boy and the girl are half world apart from each other.  I took the picture from my TV and put in as an attachment.

 

The father (Todd Burpo) published a book in Nov 2010 titled "Heaven Is For Real - a little boy's astounding story of his trip to heaven and back".  It must be a very interesting book.

 

 

Maurice

Dear Saint Joseph Family in Christ, Welcome to Saint Joseph/Old Mission San Jose and our weekly communication newsletter.  I invite you to embrace and share these messages with your family and friends. Be with me, Lord, when I am in trouble.  Psalm 91 This weekend we celebrate LENT I.  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and lasts 40 days (not including Sundays), representing the time Jesus spent fasting in the wilderness.  This 40-day period is a time to reflect, fast, pray, repent, and help the poor and suffering, as we prepare for the resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Sunday. PRAY FOR PEACE!  Please join us in continued prayer for our brothers and sisters in Ukraine.  We unite ourselves in prayer with Pope Francis to bring an end to the war in Ukraine and other areas of conflict.   The 2022 Bishop’s Ministries Appeal campaign began last weekend. This weekend, the Bishop's video will be shown at all Masses.  Join us in prayer as we continue this campaign in support of the vital work of the ministries in our diocese.  In case you are unable to attend Mass in our church this weekend, please click here to watch the short video presentation from Bishop Barber demonstrating the great need and how you can help fill that need.   Thank you for your generous support. In case you missed it last week, here is the great news from our Pastoral Leadership Team!  Please click here for this amazing update.  Thank you Chairman, Bill Utic, and the entire team for your passion and dedication in service to Saint Joseph Parish. The 2021 year end financial report is available to review online.  Please click here.  The report is very positive and shows a substantial and stable upward trend.  Thank you for your generous gifts of time, talent and treasure.  I look forward to the coming year as we continue our journey together. Please join us for Stations of the Cross this Friday at 7:00 PM in the main Church (all subsequent weeks will be conducted in the Mission).  If you are unable to join us in person, please consider praying at home.  Please click here for the worship aid we use every week.  Stations of the Cross is the perfect way to remember, reflect and pray.  You will get to know Jesus, his family and his friends in a more personal and intimate way. Did you know we have Adoration and Benediction at 6:00 PM every Thursday in the main Church?  Have you ever experienced this?  Ever attended?  It is 30 minutes.  It is reflective and prayerful.  We pray together out loud and we sing.  It's a special time to know Jesus even better.  To get closer to Him.  We encourage you to stop by and see for yourself.  What a great way to end the day before dinner (or after dinner).  Please click here for last Thursday's worship aid.  We have a different one every week following the same format.  It is always posted on the website.  Please join us.  Also, if you have never experienced Mass in Vietnamese, you can stay over on Thursdays and attend Mass at 7:00 PM in the main Church.  Every Thursday.  We also offer Mass in Vietnamese every Sunday at 3:00 PM and Mass in Chinese every Sunday at 5:00 PM.  See what it's all about.  We are so lucky and so grateful to have multi-lingual Masses in our church.  Join us sometime, please! LENT, A Time to Renew.  We are delighted and blessed to host facilitator, Father Luke Joseph Leighton, for our 2022 Lenten Retreat on Saturday, March 12 at 9:30 AM in the Main Church.  We begin with Mass in the Mission at 8:00 AM followed by Continental Breakfast in the Parish Hall.  Please click here for more details and to register for this spiritual and enlightening event.  Be enriched and transformed. Next weekend (March 12 and 13) at Mission San Jose and missions stretching from northern California to South America, a twice-yearly orientation of the sun triggers a unique and captivating event.  At sunset, the sunlight enters the west window, and a shaft of light traverses the full length of the church, showering the gilded altar in dazzling light.  Please click here for more information and how you can experience this illuminating event. Mission 225 Youth Art Contest!  Announcing Mission 225 Youth Art Contest!  Students in grades 4, 5 and 6 are invited to express their artistic talents through drawings or paintings illustrating Mission San Jose’s history, faith, and community.  Please click here for more information. Synod 2021-2023 is in full swing.  Bishop Barber has asked for our participation and commitment.  Please click here to read more about this important series on communion, participation and mission.  Synod is a process used by many churches, rooted in the history of the Catholic Church. A Greek word, Synod can be interpreted as “walking together.”  YOU are critical to the success of Synod.  Please read on. SAVE THE DATE!  Saturday, March 19.  This is an extra special day filled with exciting events.  For those of you who are early risers, we begin with Mass in the Mission at 8:00 AM to celebrate the Solemnity of the Feast of Saint Joseph.  A beautiful way to start the day.  We then invite you to participate in the 2021-2023 Synod Listening Sessions.  These sessions are designed to hear and record the voice of the people.  At the end of the process, the Synod Core team will present a report to Bishop Barber and the report will then be shared with the USCCB and ultimately delivered to the Vatican.  Below is a sneak preview of the questions we will ask you to discern. What are some things you are facing in life right now that you hope the Church can accompany you in? How do you see yourself sharing in the Church work of being Christ's life and love for the whole world? What are the joys in carrying out journeying together?  What helps or hinders us in this? How and where is the Holy Spirit calling us to grow in journeying with one another? Here are the events for that morning laid out clearly.  Please join us for as much as you are able that morning/early afternoon.  We invite you to be our welcome guests. 8:00 AM - Solemnity of the Feast of Saint Joseph - Mass in the Mission, per usual with special emphasis on the feast day (full Mass with music) BREAK and then recommence as follows after Mass (those who are unable to attend Mass, please join in after Mass) 9:30 AM - Meet and Greet - Main Church/Hall 10:00 AM - Adoration and Benediction (if you have never experienced this, please come and see what it's all about...BEAUTIFUL!) 10:30 AM - Break for Refreshments 10:45 AM - Group Discussion Part I 11:30 AM - Break for Refreshments 11:45 AM - Group Discussion Part II 12:30 PM - Closing Prayer Join us Saturday, April 9 at 9:30 AM in the Mission for, Mission San Jose's Musical Memories, the fourth in our 225th Mission Anniversary Speaker Series. This session will explain, show and share the world of music created during the Mission period.  Please click here for more details. Parish Office Hours: Monday through Thursday - 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Friday - 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday - 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon (CLOSED ON March 12 for the Lenten Retreat) CLOSED - 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m. Office Phone - (510) 656-2364 LENT I -  March 5 and 6, 2022 – Please click here for the online bulletin which contains the worship aid. Please click here for THIS weekend's Mass schedule, March 5 and 6, 2022. Saturday: 5:30 PM – Vigil Mass in the Mission Sunday 8:00 AM – Mission 10:00 AM – Main Church, livestream 12:00 PM – Main Church – Mass with Family of Faith 3:00 PM – Mass in Vietnamese, Main Church, livestream 5:00 PM  – Mass in Chinese, Main Church, livestream.  Please visit our website. 7:00 PM – Mission – Mass with Youth, Confirmation, and Young Adults Please visit our ONLINE GIVING link.  We have streamlined the process to provide maximum security, convenience and efficiency.  We are grateful for your faithful support of our parish and facilities.  Thank you for your generosity.   New job opportunities are available at Saint Joseph Parish, Mission and School.  Please click here for our list of openings. Getting married?  Please click here for detailed information and to reserve your date in the Old Mission or the main Church.  Baptism?  Please click here for registration and detailed information. Please click here for our entire Mass schedule.   As a reminder, if you cannot attend Mass in-person, livestream continues at 10:00 AM Sunday in English, 3:00 PM Sunday in Vietnamese and 5:00 PM Sunday in Chinese. Please join us online on our Livestream YouTube Channel. Monday-Saturday: INDOORS, in the Mission (all days) 7:30 AM – Holy Rosary / Confession 8:00 AM – Holy Mass First Friday of each month Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus First Saturday of each month Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary (hospitality following) 8:30 AM – Chaplet of Divine Mercy Thursday - Adoration and Benediction (IN THE MAIN CHURCH, morning Mass will remain in the MISSION) 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM – Exposition and Adoration (directly following the 8:00 AM Mass) 6:00 - 6:30 PM – Evening Prayer and Benediction 7:00 PM – Mass in Vietnamese 7:30 - 9:00 PM - Adoration and Benediction Daily Adoration in the Eucharistic Chapel (Main Church) Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday - 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Thursday - 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM Saturday - 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Closed during recording sessions Closed during livestream sessions not offering public attendance First Wednesday of each month: Devotion to Saint Joseph 7:00 PM - Mass in the Mission Confession: Daily 30 minutes before each Mass (including weekends) and by appointment Saint Joseph Catholic School (TK through 8th Grade) - Principal, Patricia Calton School website - Please click here or call the school office at 510-656-6525. Please click here for the current school newsletter.   Please visit the following websites and links: SAINT JOSEPH – Church website FACILITY CALENDAR - Daily, weekly, month at a glance FAMILY OF FAITH - Information and registration PASTORAL REFLECTIONS - Saint Joseph Staff compositions BULLETIN – Online news and ministry links ONLINE GIVING – Thank you for your dedicated and generous financial support. REGISTRATION – NEW and existing parishioners.  Please update your information. JOB OPPORTUNITIES - Job postings for the church, school and mission OLD MISSION SAN JOSE – Mission and Gift Shop website MISSION225.ORG - Special Edition 225th Anniversary Mission San Jose Yours in Christ,