ANNUNCIATION CHURCH "As the father sent me, so I send you." 1307 East Longden Ave., Arcadia CA 91006 Parish Office: 2707 Peck Rd., Monrovia, CA 91016 (616) 447-6202 / Fax (626) 447-9834 Website: AnnunciationChurch.net JESUS WAS SENT TO OUR ENEMIES, TOO t the beginning of his public ministry, and one that is not often very popular. AJesus returns to his hometown of Nazareth to give a homily in the syna- st Reading Reflection gogue. At first, everyone is impressed. 1 ~ Jeremiah 1:4-5, 17-19 ~ “Look at the carpenter’s son,” they might In this account of Jeremiah’s call to pro- have been saying. “Look how well he phetic ministry, we get a stirring promise turned out.” “Hear what a great speaker from God about the strength he will supply he is.” But then things start to go downhill. for Jeremiah. Jeremiah would need every Jesus begins to speak like a prophet. He ounce of strength that the Lord would pro- even comes quite close to revealing that vide to face both the private and official he’s the long-awaited Messiah. All of a persecution that lay ahead of him. God sudden, the hometown comments seem to says that he “knows” Jeremiah in a deep, change. “We grew up with this guy.” “He’s familial way from his very beginning and the son of Joseph.” “Who does he think he promises that he will be “with” him and will is?” In fact, the rejection of Jesus in his “deliver” him; familiar words used in the hometown is the origin of the saying, “No covenant language of the Old Testament. prophet is welcomed in his native place.” God knows that our lives may be But it’s not just that Jesus ap- quite difficult if we’re true to him, pears different than they remem- and he certainly knew that bered. Jesus comes with a star- Jeremiah’s would be difficult for tling message. He tells the village bearing the mantle of a prophet. that God wants to save not only As a consequence, God pro- the Jewish people but the rest of claims: I was with you from the the world as well: the outsiders— beginning, I’m with you now, and their enemies—the “unclean I’ll be with you to the end. Today ones.” we know that in Jesus God has This was not a popular message. In fact, come to know us, dwell with us, and re- Jesus is almost killed in Nazareth because deem us in the deepest possible way. All of it. Loving our enemies is a difficult thing of us are anointed prophets to the truth of to do. It’s probably one of Jesus’ best God’s message by virtue of our Baptism. known, but least followed, teachings. Je- We, no less than Jeremiah, need to know sus is calling his followers to a kind of love that he is with us. that is more than mere sentimentality. It’s (Continue page 4) one that hurts, one that requires sacrifice, Masses for This Week First Saturday, February 2nd 5:30 p.m. Fr. Herbert Annunciation Church RIP Janice Bonessa Sunday, February 3rd Together In Mission Announcement Weekend Today: 7:30 a.m. Fr. Callanan Next weekend is Together In Mission “Commitment Sunday.” Archbishop Gomez RIP The Han Family and Friends, and Doro- invites us to make our annual commitment to help those parishes and schools that thy Carroll need our help. If you have made a gift in the past, a letter should arrive in your S. I. Kathleen Trinaystich home this week asking you to renew your support. You can return that pledge card 9:00 a.m. Fr. Herbert via mail or make your pledge at ourmission.la.org/give. Please be praying about RIP Patricia Judson your contribution amount this week so that you’ll be prepared for next weekend’s 10:30 a.m. Fr. Herbert Commitment Sunday. RIP Danny Do, Yobany Solorzano, Essad Tahan Children’s Ministry Thanks You!: 12:00 p.m. SPANISH Visiting Priest The Annunciation Children’s Ministry sends a huge Thank You to all of our parish- RIP Marta Serna ioners who responded so generously to last weekend’s drive. Because of your kind 3:00 p.m. VIETNAMESE Fr. Nguyen and giving hearts, the homeless in our community will be a little more comfortable 4:45 p.m. Evening Prayer Fr. Herbert this season! Additionally, $1,600 in donations was collected, which has been given Monday, February 4th directly to our own Christian Service Center! We would also like to thank all of the 8:30 a.m. Fr. Herbert children and families who participated and helped make this project a big success! S.I. Tom and Lorraine Mullen When we all work together as a Parish Community, great things happen! Tuesday, February 5th 8:30 a.m. Fr. Callanan Youth Ministry Bake Sale Next Weekend: RIP Patricia Judson Wednesday, February 6th What to bring with you to Mass next weekend: prayer book - check; rosary – check, donation envelope - check, Sweet Tooth - Double Check! Our Youth Minis- 7:30 p.m. Fr. Herbert S.I. Antonio and Imelda Baclit try members will be holding their Annual Bake Sale following all Masses next week- Thursday, February 7th end. Enjoy cookies, cakes, pies and other treats at prices that can’t be beat! First 8:30 a.m. Fr. Callanan come, first served, so come early to enjoy the best selection! S.I. David and Suzanne Vera Friday, February 8th Peace and Justice Committee: 8:30 a.m. Fr. Herbert Peace and Justice topics will be presented at the Religious Education Congress S.I. Nola Gittens on March 22-24, 2019. Please register at www.RECongress.org by Feb. 22nd. For information, please call Cathlene Wells at (626) 840-7966. Masses for Next Week Senior Group Meeting Planned: Saturday, February 9th The first meeting of the Annunciation Senior Group will be held on Monday, Feb. 5:30 p.m. Fr. Callanan 11th at 1:00 p.m. in the Pastoral Center Conference Room. Both men and women RIP Esther Gutierrez are welcome. Refreshments will be served. If you did not complete the Senior Sunday, February 10th Group Survey at the recent Senior Breakfast, additional copies may be found in the 7:30 a.m. Fr. Herbert vestibule of the church. Please complete a survey and return it to the box in the S.I. Cathlene Wells vestibule. Additional information will be available in next week’s bulletin. 9:00 a.m. Fr. Callanan S.I. Marie Smith and Marge Brown-Carlson Adult Confirmation Classes Have Begun: RIP Peter Nhien Huynh The Annunciation Religious Education Office 8-week Confirmation Class began this 10:30 a.m. Fr. Herbert past Tuesday. For more information, or to register for these classes, please call S.I. Kathy Dela Paz the Religious Education Office at (626) 446-1625. 12:00 p.m. SPANISH Visiting Priest RIP Placido Carrillo, Adna and Frances Saul, and Sophia Schmidt Valentine’s Family Dance Planned: 3:00 p.m. VIETNAMESE Fr. Nguyen Please come to the Parish Hall on Saturday, Feb. 9th from 5:30 to 9:00 p.m. for our 4:45 p.m. Evening Prayer Fr. Herbert Annual Family Valentine’s Dance! Tickets are $5.00 per person or $20.00 per fam- Monday, February 11th ily, which includes a spaghetti dinner with beverage. Valentine’s baked goods will 8:30 a.m. Fr. Herbert also be for sale. Dance to music from DJ Tony, enjoy Karaoke, enter raffles and RIP Danny Do take your picture at the self-service photo booth! Please call Frances Luna at (626) Tuesday, February 12th 327-6147 if you have questions or would like to volunteer to help. 8:30 a.m. Fr. Callanan S.I. Brian Paul Wills Planning Seminar For Catholics Scheduled: Wednesday, February 13th On Thursday, Mar. 14th, Annunciation will host representatives from the Archdio- 7:30 p.m. Fr. Herbert cese of Los Angeles, along with an estate attorney and a financial planner who will S.I. Marie and Ronald Nimmrich conduct two seminar sessions on the topic of Catholic Wills Planning. This event Thursday, February 14th will take place in our Parish Hall—one seminar will be held at 1:00 p.m. and a sec- 8:30 a.m. Fr. Herbert ond one (same topic) at 7:00 p.m. There will be another seminar, in Spanish, on S.I. Mack and Francine Moore Tuesday, Mar. 26th at 7:00 p.m. only. There will be no solicitation—this is a free Friday, February 15th seminar and is not a fundraising event. Individuals and couples who attend will 8:30 a.m. Fr. Herbert receive a kit on Wills Planning. RSVP’s will be requested, and instructions on how S.I. Lisa Smith to do this will appear in another bulletin article in a few weeks. 4th Sunday in Ordinary Time Feb. 3, 2019 Did You Know? Please Pray for: Linda Routeraus, As parents, we want to keep our children safe from any harm. That includes Walter Mitchell, Jim Carrell, Victorio Ata harm from identity theft, which can lead to compromised credit scores and and Nestor Kusnierz. financial ruin, before your child even gets his/her first job! Take steps to Born to Eternal Life: Geraldine Jensen minimize the risk of identity theft by setting up credit freezes on your child’s May she rest in peace. social security number, or getting an IRS identity protection PIN that will pre- vent fraudulent use of your child’s identity.