ST. JUDE CATHOLIC COMMUNITY    PAGE SEVEN   APRIL 9, 2000 

Potted Easter Lilies, Azaleas, Hydrangeas, and Tulips of any color are needed to decorate the environment for Easter.    As we did last year, one and all are invited to donate a Potted Plant in memory of some person (living or deceased) or in thanksgiving for some favor granted or in petition for some favor.

Please attach a note to your Potted Plant listing the name of the person in whose honor the Potted Plant has been donated, and whether that person is living or deceased.   Or, listing whether your Potted Plant is given in Thanksgiving for a favor received or in Petition for some favor being sought from God.

All names will be noted in the Bulletin the Sunday after Easter, as will Thanksgiving and Petition Intentions.    All will be asked to look over that list, and to pray for those persons and intentions.
 
Please bring your Potted Plants to the Parish Pastoral Office Good Friday, or directly to the church Holy Saturday morning.     

Please do not bring your Potted Plants earlier in the week, as no flowers may be in the church during Holy Week and there is only so much room in the Pastoral Office.

During this Great Season of Lent we are encouraged to meditate on the Paschal Mysteries:  the Lord's Passion, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, and Glorification at the Father's right hand.     One very good way to do this, is by making the Way of the Cross.     Any manner of prayer may be said while walking the Stations.     Some read passages from the Gospels while walking the Stations.     Others use a manual of prayers.   Others just pause and reflect on the mystery of each Station.

We pray the Stations communally every Friday Evening at 7:30 p.m. during Lent.

One and all are encouraged to fully participate in the current United States Census.   It is a matter of record that the 1990 Census was grossly undercounted.    As a result, California lost out on millions of tax dollars for roads and other federal projects and funding.   We also lost much needed funding to use for the underprivileged living here in our State.

Please return your questionnaire as soon as possible, even if you receive a long form.

If you have not yet made your 2000 Pledge Commitment to our Sister Parish and helping those less fortunate, please prayerfully consider doing so now or whenever your financial picture changes.     We cannot ignore the needs of our poorest sisters and brothers.     Rather, we need to stand in most heartfelt, and genuine support, with them.

"Together in Mission" truly does help our poorest parish communities, as we heard on "Announcement Sunday" when members of our Sister Parish reported to us at each Mass.     Every penny raised goes to help them meet their needs.

St. Jude's Girl Scouts are leading our parish community in helping the local Conejo Valley "Manna" Program, which helps the local poor.    Needed are food items, personal hygiene items, and necessary household items.     Please do NOT donate anything in a glass container, as "Manna" can be sued if it breaks. 

Food items being sought at this time are:  canned juices and soups, canned veggies and fruits, canned meals and meats, dry soup mixes and meal mixes, and dry cereals.     

Other food basic food items being sought in small non-breakable containers are:   mayonnaise, mustard, catsup, salt & pepper, sugar, flour, cooking oil, tea & coffee.

Personal hygiene items needed are:   bath soap, combs, brushes, shaving lather and shavers, toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant, and hair shampoo and gel.

Other hygiene items are:   washing soap and bleach, disposable baby diapers, baby bottles, and items for bathing and caring for a baby.

Please leave your donations in the back of the church in the big red buckets when you come to Mass.     The Girl Scouts will collect them and take them to "Manna".

We stand from the "Our Father" till all have received Holy Communion.     Those who cannot stand for health reasons, are allowed to sit as the rubrics in the Sacramentary direct.

The purpose behind this practice, is to remind the Gathered Assembly that many though we are, we become one body in Christ and one with each other in Christ.     As one body, all doing the same thing, we stand together while singing together the Communion Hymn of praise unto the Lord.     Only after all have received, do we then sit together to spend some time in quiet meditation and prayer with the Eucharistic Lord within us.