Jesus Has Risen— He Is Alive. We Are Called to Be Alive with Him. His
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Volume 19, Number 5 ~ April 2017 Jesus has risen— He is alive. We are called to be alive with Him. His Resurrection means that we have a lot of work to do. Rejoice - Christ Is Alive! by Sister Julia Fonseca, FHIC As we recall the greatest mysteries of our faith during Holy Week, my thoughts turn to Jesus, the Risen Lord. He is alive! Although this is a well-known topic to many, perhaps the Holy Spirit will lead us to a reflection that might be beneficial to all who believe in the words of our Profession of Faith when we say: “For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate, he suf- fered death, and was buried. and rose again on the third day in accordance with Scriptures.” True faith concerning the Resurrection of Jesus teaches that he truly died, that is, his soul was separated from his body, and his body was in the grave for three days, and that then by his own power his body and soul were united once more, never again to be separated. Although this is a strictly supernatural mystery, there are some elements in it which come within the category of sense expe- rience — death, burial, the empty tomb, appearances, etc. — and in this sense it is a demonstrable fact and one which has been verified. Jesus Christ’s Resurrection completes the work of redemption. For just by dying he endured all evil to deliver us from evil, so he was glorified in rising again to advance us towards good things, according to Romans 4:25 which says that “{He} was handed over to for our transgressions and was raised for our justification”. Christ is alive. This is the great truth which fills our faith with meaning. Jesus, who died on the cross, is risen. He has triumphed over death; he has overcome sorrow, anguish and the power of darkness. “Do not be amazed!” was how the angels greeted the women who came to the tomb. “Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here.” (Mark 16:6). “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice in it and be glad.”(Psalm 118:24). Easter is a time of joy – a joy not confined to this period of the liturgical year, for it should always be present in the Chris- tian’s heart, for Christ is alive. He is not someone who has gone, someone who existed for a time and then passed on, leaving us a wonderful example and a great memory. No, Christ is alive, Jesus is the Emmanuel: God with us. His Resurrection shows us that God does not abandon his own. He promised He would not: “Can a mother forget her infant, be without tenderness for the child of her womb? Even should she forget, I will never forget you.” (Isaiah 49:15) And he has kept his promise. His delight is still with the children of women and men. Through Baptism and the other sacraments, a Christian becomes part of the redemptive mystery of Christ, part of his death and resurrection: “You were buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead.” (Colossians 2:12). If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Let us rejoice and be glad, for the Lord is truly risen. Alleluia! May the Risen Lord grant each and everyone a Blessed Easter. Dear Portuguese Heritage Night Friend: “In the Immaculate Heart of Mary, we all have a place of refuge.” This is the theme for the upcoming Portuguese Heritage Night which will take place this year on October 27, 2017 at New Bethany Residential Care and Skilled Living Facility. Greetings and best wishes for God’s abundant blessings upon you and your family under the loving protection of the Immaculate Mary. We are planning an event that will highlight the devotion of the Portuguese people who call upon Mary as the “Soberana Rainha de Portugal.” There will be an image of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, coming from Fatima, whose beauty is beyond compare and it will be auctioned at the closing of the event, as the most precious and valuable item. SAVE THE DATE and spread the news with your friends. This event will take place at New Bethany Residential Care and Skilled Living Fa- cility 1441 Berkeley Dr., Los Banos, 93635. For more information, please call (209) 827-8933. Catholic Television KNXT Streaming LIVE on the Internet at: www.KNXT.tv Programming Highlights NEW ON KNXT-TV Solemn Mass of Palm Sunday from Rome with Pope Francis Apr. 9 - 12:00 pm Easter Vigil Mass from Rome with Pope Francis Apr. 15 - 12:30 pm Easter Mass from Rome with Pope Francis Apr. 16 - 12:00 pm BNSIC Easter Vigil Mass Apr. 15 - 5:00 pm 2 April 2017 Central California Catholic Life EASTER IS CELEBRATION The Seven C’s of Laudato Sí by Jim Grant, Director Social Justice Ministry Diocese of Fresno February 20, 2017, was indeed an historic day for the Diocese of Fresno! His Eminence Cardinal Peter Turkson, Prefect of the newly instituted Dicastery for Integral Human Development not only visited us, but he blessed hundreds of clergy and parishioners from across the dio- cese gathered at Holy Spirit Church in Fresno with a masterful summary of Pope Francis’ Encyclical Laudato Sí: On Care for our Common Home, based on seven words, all beginning with the letter C! 1. Continuity: Laudato Sí is a social encyclical in line with and repeat- ing principles and insights previously taught by Popes Leo XIII, St. John XXIII, Blessed Paul VI, St. John Paul II and Benedict XVI. 2. Collegiality: Besides citing traditional papal teaching, Pope Francis breaks new ground by quoting Bishops’ Conferences often in the encyc- lical. This collegial approach of teaching with his brother bishops con- firms their writings and supports their local actions at the same time. 3. Conversation/Dialogue: The Encyclical is a passionate call for an open and enlightened conversation between reason and religion, between His Eminence Cardinal Peter K. A. Turkson science and faith. 4. Care: So important to the encyclical that it is included in its very title: “Care for our Common Home”. Instead of a task, the Pope sees it as solidarity, tenderness, a loving desire, a commitment that comes from seeing the cry of the poor and the cry of the environment as one and the same, inseparable. 5. Conversion: Nothing will change without a complete global and ecological conversion, based on a profound and personal change of heart. The way to achieve this is through educating ourselves to ecological citizenship. 6. Citizenship: Only when everyone realizes and appreciates the in- timate relationship between humanity and the environment will we take the necessary action to save the planet. 7. Contemplation: The encyclical opens with a prayer and closes with two, reminding us that creation is a sacrament of God’s loving activity in the world. Cardinal Turkson with Rt. Rev. Eric Vawter Menees, Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of San Joaquin and our Bishop Armando X. Ochoa Holy Cross Sisters have a long-term connection with Bishop Ochoa and Cardinal Turkson Cardinal Turkson when he was archbishop of Cape prepare to bless the participants present Coast, Ghana Central California Catholic Life April 2017 3 St. Francis Parish School Celebrates Life The Fresno Diocese 50th Anniversary Mass in the High Desert by Kay Nowatzki, Jr. High Religion teacher by Fr. Kris Sorenson, Pastor, Our Lady of Lourdes, California City, and All throughout the year, but espe- St. Joseph’s, Boron, and Vicar Forane of the High Desert Region cially during Sanctity of Life Month, St. Francis Parish School in Bakersfield During World War II, Japanese Americans around the country were forced to remembers the significance of respect- relocate to relocation camps for the duration of the war. Entire families were up- ing life in all stages: from the moment rooted, businesses and homes lost, and lives were thoroughly disrupted. On top of conception to natural death. Younger of this, they lived in barracks-type buildings and took their meals in mess halls. students have listened to stories that It was pretty much run like a prison camp. There is a famous relocation camp marvel at the beauty of life from books called Manzanar in the High Desert of the Eastern Sierra just north of Lone such as, Before You Were Born by Joan Pine, which housed the Japanese from the southern California region. Thou- Lowery Nixon, and Dr. Seuss’ Horton sands were relocated there. Among them were several hundred Catholics. These Hears A Who. The entire junior high Catholics were able to receive the sacraments by means of a religious priest participated in a national novena for the who made the trek to this center each Sunday. They had their own small chapel. “Legal Protection of the Unborn;” sixth There are still a few individuals alive today, now in their 80s and 90s, who were graders have written prayers and poems part of that community. accompanied by illustrations reflect- This is just a bit of background on Manzanar, but the intent of this article is ing pro-life values. Seventh graders not to provide a detailed history. Anyone can easily look up this history on the wrote prayers creating a montage of internet. What I would like to explain is how I came to identify this location for Internet images that represented quotes the Diocese of Fresno’s 50th anniversary Mass, which will be held May 18 at 11 from famous proponents of life.