Our Lady of Lourdes Church and School A Catholic Tradition in the foothills of Los Angeles since 1920 December 20, 2020 4th Sunday of First Reading: 2 Samuel 7:1-5, 8-12, 14-16 Second Reading: Romans 16:25-27 Pastor Advent Gospel: Luke 1:26-38 Fr. Rolly Astudillo 818-352-3218 x 103 The thought of traditional Christmas the Word enables us to become children of [email protected] celebration seems a little unreal after all the God. We keep on becoming children of Deacons events of the past nine months. The good God by receiving this lowly child, not only Dn. Mar Enriquez news is, however, that while circumstances the one in the manger, but all the ones who 818-802-1639 may change, God does not. God who seem insignificant and the least among us. [email protected] became man, has always been with us and within us. For Mary, what God is asking is Dn. Ramon Villasenor incomprehensible. Mary questions, "How 818-352-3218 As Christmas approaches, the readings for can this be, since I have no relations with a [email protected] the Fourth Sunday of Advent focus our man." While not spelling out how, the attention on the notion of a dwelling place angel reassures Mary that in the midst of In Residence for God. In the first reading, King David this messy situation, God will bring forth Fr. Jiwan Kim finds himself free in that he no longer has blessing, holiness, and salvation for all. [email protected] to fight his enemies. Instead, he can devote Twice the angel Gabriel assures her that she Mass Schedule * his time and energy to whatever he likes, so is grace-filled and have found favor with Saturday Vigil Mass he plans to build a splendid temple for God. God. He also reassures her that she is not 6:00 pm (English) At first the prophet Nathan approves this alone. Her relative, Elizabeth has also Sunday Mass plan, but then he hears a word from God conceived a son in her old age. Without 8:00 am (Spanish), that turns the plan upside down: “Should knowing how God will accomplish all this, Daily Mass you build me a house to dwell in?” God Mary opens a space for God to dwell within Monday through Friday: then explains that all the successes that her, enabling the Son of God to make a new 6:00 pm David has were in God’s doing, which now home within all humankind. Parish Office Hours culminates in God establishing a house, a kingdom and dynasty for David that shall During this time of Advent, we think about Monday through Friday the birth of the baby, Jesus, and the coming 8:30 am - 1:00 pm last forever before the Lord. 2:00 pm - 5:30 pm of Christ. Yet Advent reveals more. It is In the gospel reading, Gabriel’s message to about preparing ourselves for Christ to Saturday and Sunday Mary is that God now takes up residence in 8:00 am - 12:00 pm come and dwell within us and within our human flesh. While there is a place for world. God takes up residence not in [email protected] magnificent temples and churches where 818-352-3218 beautifully adorned buildings but in the we can gather as a people to glorify God, humblest of persons, in the most difficult of Church Location the Holy One would have us first recognize circumstances. The irony is that in trying 7315 Apperson St that divinity walks around in our midst in times we may feel abandoned by God, or Tujunga, CA 91042 human skin. question why God is punishing us or why Office Location 7344 Apperson St Moreover, those who are the least by we have lost God’s favor. It is precisely in Tujunga, CA 91042 human standards are the most favored by such times that God dwells most intimately God when it comes to revealing God’s within us, assuring us that we are full of OLL School Office Hours mystery. David, for example, was the grace and favor, asking us to trust that God (Closed) youngest and the least qualified one, when can and will bring forth blessing, even if we officemanager @olltujunga.org God took him from pasturing his sheep to cannot see how, for "nothing is impossible 818-353-1106 lead his people. Mary was an ordinary for God." Mary, in her humility and Adoration* young woman making wedding plans in a lowliness shows us how to receive Jesus, First Fridays after 6:00 pm Mass little-known town in Galilee, when she was our Savior, God's greatest gift to us. Reconciliation asked to take on a seemingly impossible Like Mary, could we humbly trust and Saturdays: 4:45 pm - 5:45 pm role. surrender to God and say, “I am the servant Rosary+ In both the first reading and the gospel, of the Lord. May it be done to me After Daily Mass there is a startling twist: it is not we who according to your word”? If we can, then Baptism and Marriages make dwelling places for God but God who we are ready for Christmas — the coming Please call the Parish Office builds the house. Likewise, on Christmas of the Lord into our life, making our life 818-352-3218 Day, John’s Gospel speaks not only of how not just a series of personal plans, but a dwelling place of God’s light and love and * Masses held outdoors by grotto wondrous it is that God takes on the form + Suspended until further notice of a child but also of how our reception of His will.❖ December 20, 2020 Our Lady of Lourdes www.ollchurch.us 2 A Christmas Prayer by Robert Louis Stevenson O God our Loving Father, Help us remember the birth of Jesus, that we may share in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds, and worship of the wise men. Close the door of hate and open the door of love all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift and good desires with every greeting. Deliver us from evil by the blessing which Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clear hearts. May the Christmas morning make us happy to be Thy children, and Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for Jesus' sake. Amen. to our OLL Parish Family Fr. Rolly Astudillo and the OLL Parish and School Staff December 20, 2020 Our Lady of Lourdes www.ollchurch.us 3 Calendar of Events Road to Centennial News All Masses and sacraments will be celebrated outside the church by the grotto Portrait of Our Lady of Lourdes (see p.4) Weekdays: 6:00 pm Sessions Saturday Vigil: 6:00 pm (English) are Back! Sunday 8:00 am (Spanish) Sunday Masses will continue to be live If you didn’t have a chance to have your personal or streamed. family portrait taken for https://www.facebook.com/106570891120663/live/ the Commemorative Book, we have 2 new ways to take your picture for this special historical keepsake. Choose a location: In case of rain, the altar will be moved to the covered patio. In-person mass attendees may stay in their cars or under Front Steps of OLL Church On your own front porch* umbrellas. or the Grotto* One of our professional, volun- Reconciliation will be available on Safely meet with one of our pro- teer photographers will be hap- Saturdays at 4:45 pm to 5:45 pm on the fessional, volunteer photogra- py to travel to your home and phers on the church grounds to hospitality patio or by appointment take your personal or family take your photo. photo on your front porch or All face-to-face ministry meetings, yard. prayer group meetings and other *For safety, please practice all social distancing protocols and wear a gatherings are still suspended. mask when you’re not posed for the actual picture taking. Refer to the website for the most up-to- Visit www.ollcentennial.com for details and to signup for a date information: www.ollchurch.us November or December portrait sitting. The Parish Office is open only for . Questions?: Eloisa de Guzman: [email protected] essentials. All other questions: Giovanna Dottore — [email protected] *Book available in late 2021 Thank you NEW ad purchasers! Centennial Celebrations OLL plans to prepare a time capsule as one of our Dorla Marquis Centennial year activities. What do you think should be Darcy Yates included in it? Some early suggestions include: a face Want to purchase an ad or become a sponsor? Contact: Anita Dominquez — mask; The Centennial Mass (once we have it) program/ [email protected] Worship Aid; Photos; The Commemorative Book ….. What do YOU think. Send us your ideas. [email protected] December 20, 2020 Our Lady of Lourdes www.ollchurch.us 4 Reminder: Schedule and Protocol For Outdoor Masses A new Safer-at-home Order was issued by the LA County Health Department for a 3-week period effective 11/29. Luckily, Worship services are excluded and we are still able to hold outdoor Masses. Please comply with the guidelines listed here out of love for one another. We continue to celebrate Mass outdoors. Note the schedule except as listed under Christmas schedule in the next column: Weekday Masses (Monday to Friday): 6:00 P.M. Sunday Masses: Two Masses Only English Mass: Saturday at 6:00 P.M.