Well, we’re again back in Ordinary Time, with the end of the Christmas Season at the end  of last Monday, January 8th. While the transition from a festal season back to the humdrum of day-to-day Christian living might feel a bit stark (and personally speaking I always find it especially sad to move from celebrations to the ordinary in the winter, due to the low winter sun and colder temperatures), might I suggest that we use this shift from joyful feasting to the slower pace of normal life to our benefit? 

We now have just one month of reflection on what it means to be a Christian outside of a privileged season to get our spiritual “houses” in order before we begin the penitential season of Lent on February 14th. So, let’s all use this time wisely, preparing not only for the rigors of the Lenten season but also as a time of reflection on how we approach, as ordinary Christians, the many quotidian tasks, duties, joys, and sorrows that confront us each and every day. If we are able to live Christianity in the ordinary experiences of our lives, and do so well, then our fasting and our feasting, whether in penitential seasons or in seasons of triumphant joy, will be far more fruitful and fiilled with meaning.

This week’s Updates will be a bit shorter than normal, as this week I was able to get away from the parish for 5 days for a short vacation, and as such I have fewer updates for you than normal. It was a joy to spend time on a brief holiday with my priest-friend, Fr. Cameron Forbes, who was visiting our parish to be our guest speaker for “Vespers and Vespers”. While I was away, I assure you that you all remained in my thoughts and prayers, and I am now delighted to be home once again in our beautiful town of La Habra (and not only because I got trapped in a snowstorm in Kansas, of all places!), but also because I have come to feel very much “at home” here. With that in mind, thank you all for your kindness and hospitality to me these past six months. While it has been a blessing to serve in each parish to which I have been assigned over the past 9.5 years of my priesthood, I can honestly say that OLG-La Habra has come to hold a special place in my heart. My sincere gratitude to you all for making it so.

While I have been “away” this past week, I was back on Wednesday and Friday nights for the final two evenings of our inaugural “Vespers and Vespers” series. What a joy it was to have all our attendees present for this four-night series, with such packed houses. To all of you who joined us for this series, my sincerest gratitude to you for your support! We had hundreds of attendees over the four nights, and our Coleman Center was filled to the brim with La Habran “mixologists”!

In particular, I would like to express my gratitude to all the members of our staff and our many volunteers who helped make this event a success. While there are too many of you to name, I would like to thank our “chefs” in a special way in these pages. And so, to Richard and Catherine Cheah, Lisa Naccarato, and the members of “Comite Hispano”, I would like to say: “Many thanks and God reward you!” I would also like to thank our guest speaker, Fr. Cameron Forbes, for flying out from Melbourne, Australia, to join us for this event. Thank you, Fr. Cameron! 

“Vespers and Vespers” was a blast, and we look forward to hosting another such series in the future. 

Please note that our parish office and all other parish events will be closed/canceled after the 8:30AM Mass on Monday, January 15th in honor of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.

Día de Martin Luther King Jr.: 15 de enero de 2024
Tenga en cuenta que nuestra oficina parroquial y todos los demás eventos parroquiales estarán cerrados o cancelados después de la misa de las 8:30AM el lunes 15 de enero en honor al feriado del Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

The second collection this weekend will benefit the church in Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. Thank you in advance for you generosity!

La segunda colecta de este fin de semana beneficiará a la iglesia en África, América Latina y Europa del Este. ¡Gracias de antemano por su generosidad! 

January is the month of the Holy Name of Jesus. Let us turn to Jesus through His Mother for our needs and those of the family and our country. All are welcome to join us in this public prayer in front of our church each month. Check in starts at 11:45AM. Please bring a chair if needed.

Save the following dates:

February 17

EL PROXIMO Rally del Rosario hoy: 20 de enero de 2024
Enero es el mes del Santo Nombre de Jesús. Acudamos a Jesús a través de su Madre para nuestras necesidades y las de nuestra familia y nuestro país. Todos son bienvenidos a unirse a nosotros en esta oración pública frente a nuestra iglesia cada mes. El check-in comienza a las 11:45AM Por favor traiga una silla si es necesario.

Reserva las siguientes fechas:
17 de febrero

The Red Cross will have a blood drive here at OLG on Sunday, January 21st, 2024 from 9:00AM to 3:00PM. Please consider donating to help save lives. Online registration is required. Please schedule an appointment by visiting their website at www.redcrossblood.org. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

La Cruz Roja realizará una campaña de donación de sangre aquí en OLG el domingo 21 de enero de 2024 de 9:00 a. m. a 3:00 p. m. Considere hacer una donación para ayudar a salvar vidas. Es necesario registrarse en línea. Programe una cita visitando su sitio web en www.redcrossblood.org. ¡Gracias de antemano por su generosidad!

The next Knights of Columbus Food Drive will be on Saturday, February 3rd from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. & Sunday, February 4th from 6:00 - 11:30 a.m. Items collected will be distributed to those locally in need. Bring your donations to the Parish Office garage on your way to Mass. Needed: Canned goods (soups, vegetables, fruit, tuna, meats, stew); Dry foods (hot or cold cereal, beans, rice, spaghetti/pasta); Toiletries (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, toilet tissue, disposable diapers). Thank you for your support!

Colecta de Alimentos de los Caballeros de Colón: 3-4 de febrero
¡La proxima colecta de alimentos de Caballeros de Colón se llevará a cabo el sábado 3 de febrero de 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. y Domingo 4 de febrero de 6:00 - 11:30 a.m. Los artículos recolectados se distribuirán a quienes los necesiten localmente. Traiga sus donaciones al garaje de la Oficina Parroquial en su camino a Misa. Necesita: Productos enlatados (sopas, verduras, frutas, atún, carnes, estofado); Alimentos secos (cereales fríos o calientes, frijoles, arroz, espaguetis / pasta); Otros artículos (jabón, champú, pasta de dientes, desodorante, papel higiénico, pañales desechables). ¡Gracias por tu apoyo!

The Knights of Columbus will present Mardi Gras’ – OLG Style! Join us for a night of great music, food, dancing, prizes and fantastic decorations! Wear a costume, a mask or just dress for a nice evening out with friends. The terrific eight piece band, Lounge-o-Rama will be performing a time travel of popular music….swing, jazz, rock and roll, disco and more - all your listening and dancing favorites! Dinner will be prepared and served by Portofino’s Restaurant. Tickets are $50 per person and will go on sale in Jason Patio on January 20^th.

¡Reserva! Para el sábado 10 de febrero por la tarde
Los Caballeros de Colón presentarán el Mardi Gras – ¡Estilo OLG! ¡Únase a nosotros para una noche de buena música, comida, baile, premios y fantásticas decoraciones! Ponte un disfraz, una máscara o simplemente vístete para pasar una agradable velada con amigos. La fantástica banda de ocho integrantes, Lounge-o-Rama, realizará un viaje en el tiempo de música popular... swing, jazz, rock and roll, discoteca y más: ¡todos tus favoritos para escuchar y bailar! La cena será preparada y servida en el restaurante Portofino's. Los boletos cuestan $50 por persona y saldrán a la venta en Jason Patio el 20 de enero.

Newsong Church, 1010 W. 17th Street, Santa Ana, CA 92706

 

Join others throughout Orange County for a heartfelt morning of prayer and celebration at the Orange County MLK Prayer Breakfast! This in-person event will be held at the Newsong Church. Come together with our community to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and his message of love, unity, and equality. Start your day with inspiring prayers, uplifting music, and meaningful conversations. Let's remember Dr. King's dream and continue working towards a brighter future for all. Don't miss this opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and be part of a powerful movement. Together, we can make a difference!

 

The Diocese of Orange is a sponsor on this event and we welcome you to attend as individuals or parish group.

 

Register and learn more here.

Bishop Vann invites you to join him with Archbishop Gomez and clergy and people of God throughout Southern California in celebration of life at OneLife LA. Attend as a family, small faith community, parish delegation. This family-friendly event begins with a solidarity-building walk through downtown Los Angeles, ending with a festival, live music, food trucks, entertainment, and inspiring speakers. Our speakers share powerful stories of what they have overcome in life and how they use that struggle to help others. These stories inspire and mobilize thousands of people to do good work every day to help those in need. This is the tenth year anniversary of this beautiful event. More details are available at onelifela.org. Don’t miss it!

On January 22, 2024, Bishop Vann invites all the Catholic community to observe the day as a Day of Reparation. While the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion nationwide was overturned in June of 2022, many state and federal laws are still hostile to unborn children and many lack sufficient support for women, children, and families in need. So Catholics are encouraged to practice fasting, abstinence, and prayer on that day.

Bishop Vann also invites our Catholic community as well as all people of good will to join together with Bishop Nguyen in prayer for an end to abortion, healing for those involved in abortion, the protection of unborn children, our radical solidarity in walking with moms and all in need, and a renewed respect for all human life at the Mass for the Protection of Unborn Children on Monday, January 22, 2024. The Mass will begin at 7 p.m. at Christ Cathedral, 13280 Chapman Avenue, Garden Grove. The Mass will be followed by a “Walking with Moms” Ministry fair in the Cultural Center.

El 22 de enero de 2024, el obispo Vann invita a toda la comunidad católica a observar el día como Día de Reparación. Si bien la decisión Roe v. Wade que legalizó el aborto en todo el país fue revocada en junio de 2022, muchas leyes estatales y federales siguen siendo hostiles a los niños no nacidos y muchas carecen de apoyo suficiente para las mujeres, los niños y las familias necesitadas. Por eso se anima a los católicos a practicar el ayuno, la abstinencia y la oración ese día.

El Obispo Vann también invita a nuestra comunidad católica, así como a todas las personas de buena voluntad, a unirse al Obispo Nguyen en oración por el fin del aborto, sanación para aquellos que están involucrados en el aborto, la protección de los niños no nacidos, nuestra solidaridad radical al caminar con las mamás y todos los necesitados, y un renovado respeto por toda vida humana en la Misa por la Protección. de los Niños por Nacer el lunes 22 de enero de 2024. La Misa comenzará a las 7 p.m. en la Catedral de Cristo, 13280 Chapman Avenue, Garden Grove. La Misa será seguida por una feria del ministerio “Caminando con las Mamás” en el Centro Cultural.

When was the last time you intentionally made this simple prayer, “Call me and I’ll follow.” The reality is it’s nearly impossible to discern God’s voice unless we invite Him in through our prayer. Discernment isn’t just for pious folks or seminarians, but every second is an opportunity to hear God’s call on our lives. Young adult men and women (18-35) are invited to come and spend time with the Lord, the Diocese of Orange Vocation Team, and one another for a weekend of prayer, fellowship, guidance, and spiritual direction. This experience is not only for those discerning their vocation, but for any young adult who desires to learn how to listen to the voice of God in their lives.

Early Bird Cost is $150 until Dec. 28th. Scholarships are available, contact Benito at bmedrano@rcbo.org.

Registration information can be found at linktr.ee/ocvocations

Questions? Contact the Office of Vocations: ocvocations@rcbo.org or 714-282-3033

Join us for a one-day retreat of hope and healing for women whose lives have been touched by abortion. To register, click here or scan the QR Code in the post. 

To donate towards this free retreat via Paypal, visit: Ministry-Office-for-Family-Life-payment  and indicate “Restored” for registration type.

 

For more information about our Hope & Healing Post Abortion Healing Ministry visit: Ministry-Office-for-Family-Life-healing-after-abortion or contact our confidential line: (800) 722-4356.

Please visit https://dmemf.org/contents/en-us/d4.html to register.

Visite https://dmemf.org/contents/en-us/d4.html para registrarse.