Sunday, February 14, 2021 Pastor Fr. Jose Noriega, DCJM Parochial Vicars Fr. Javier Nieva, DCJM, Administrator Fr. Stefan Zarnay, DCJM Fr. James de Cendra, DCJM In-Residence Fr. Luis Granados, DCJM Fr. Javier O’Connor, DCJM Deacons Greg Frank , Tim Kilbarger dcjm.org 6853 South Prince Street Littleton, CO 80120 303.798.8506 stmarylittleton.org Upcoming Events Men of St. Mary Parish You are invited! Tue Feb 16 7:00pm Ave Maria Hall All men are invited to join the Knights of Columbus at their next Dive into the wisdom monthly meeting. This year in honor of St. Joseph, our regular meetings of this great Saint! will include a special study and dis- Join us for these weekly events as we journey through the Ju- cussion of Redemptorist Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer), bilee Year of St. John Paul II: an encyclical of Pope John Paul II on the Mission and Life of Adoratio with St. John Paul II: Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. A St. Joseph. time of worship and reflection, going deeper into the teachings of St. John Paul II. Come hear a presentation by Fr. Javier and check out your St. Mary’s Knights of Columbus. The Knights of Columbus Soci- Marian Masses: Saturdays at 8:15 am. Mass with a spe- ety has historically been a leader of Catholic men in practicing cial focus on Mary in the teaching of St. John Paul II as works of charity, in faithful support of families and the found in the encyclical Redemptoris mater Church, and in growing in knowledge of the faith. For more information, please contact: Mitch Walker | [email protected] | 720.328.4328 Pilgrimage to Poland 2021 Updated pricing information The St. Mary pilgrimage, Celebrating the Life and Legacy of St. John Paul II, Safe Environment Training Class is rescheduled for September 20-29, Sat Feb 27 9:30am Ave Maria Hall 2021. And --- with a new lower price! St. Mary Parish and School requires all volunteers to take a Safe Environment training class, whether they work directly You are invited to join Fr. Javier Nieva with minors or not. The class, titled "Protecting God's Chil- on a spiritual journey through the areas dren, for Adults", is being offered on Saturday, February 27, that formed John Paul II as saint, pope, 9:30 am in Ave Maria Hall. Registration is required, and man. Visit Krakow, Auschwitz, his home town Wadowice, the Shrine of If you have taken the class previously, but more than 5 years Divine Mercy, and more. ago, you should take the on-line refresher class, not this live training class. To register and for more information, please visit www.rtijourneys.com or contact Linda Sherman. For further information and to register, please contact Linda at 720.502.3320 | [email protected].) 303.798.8506, or [email protected]. The St. John Paul II Foundation, in collaboration with the Archdiocese of Denver, Centura Health, and SCL Health, invite all health care professionals to the first Converging Roads medical ethics conference held in person and online on Saturday, April 10, 2021 from 8:30 am – 7:30 pm at Risen Christ Catholic Parish. The conference theme is Ethical Challenges in Health Spiritual Exercises Silent Retreat Care: A Practical Approach, and continuing education Entering into the Paschal Mystery credits for healthcare professionals will be offered. Fri Mar 5 7:00pm—Sun Mar 7 2:00pm Franciscan Retreat Center, Colorado Springs Topics include: Gender Dysphoria in Children and Adults, As we prepare to enter into the season of Lent, the Church in- Artificial Intelligence and the Common Good, Navigating vites us to a deeper conversion and a more intense prayer life. Moral Distress, Social Determinants in Health, and more! Cost is $265. Space is limited—register today at For more information, please visit convergingroads.com or www.stmarylittleton.org/adults-2/ email [email protected]. Sunday, February 14, 2021 | The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Families Serving Families Volunteer Spotlight Fresh Food Sourcing The food pantry ministry is quite blessed to have several teams who serve throughout the week, sourcing fresh foods for Monday distribution. We are thankful for these volunteers, for their many grocery rescue and purchasing efforts, which Mon., Feb. 15, the Parish Office will be happen mostly on the weekends. closed & there will be only • Bakery rescue teams pick up from local stores and one Mass at 8:15am. bakeries, then deliver to St. Mary. • Grocery rescue teams serve at a local warehouse, sorting, St. Mary’s packing and safely storing fresh foods, ready to be picked Newest Organist up early Monday morning by our Transport teams. This is - and the Future our major source of fruits, vegetables, bakery, meat and dairy. of Music in the • Purchasing teams shop for fresh produce and eggs (in Church bulk) from several local stores, then deliver to St. Mary. The rousing postlude at • Twice monthly, our Food Bank of the Rockies team the end of the 9:30 orders food, then rents a truck to pick up and deliver Mass this weekend will several pallets loaded with a wide variety of fresh and non be played by Eli -perishable foods. Carson. Eli is 12 years old and is in the 6th Much appreciation for all who offer their time and talents to grade. He has been ensure that we provide healthy and nutritious food for our studying piano for four neighbors in need. years and organ for about six months. Eli is Questions? Contact Program Coordinator Debi Gorka an altar server, a lector, 303.513.1720 | [email protected] and will be confirmed this Spring. Besides music, he likes math, Legos and basketball. Watch and listen for more preludes, postludes and hymns from Eli in the In the Gospel today Jesus, moved with pity, coming months. touched the leper and healed him. Let us pray today for the grace to be generous with our gifts to help those who are suffering. By your gift to the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, you indeed put your faith into action as you bring healing to those suffering, hungry and weeping. Spring Vigil Our 40 Days for Life Spring Vigil begins Wednesday, Febru- ary 17th and runs through Sunday, March 28th. Volunteer Needed There will be 24-hour vigil at the Littleton Planned Safe Environment Class Facilitator Parenthood location at 131 W County Line Rd Littleton, CO St. Mary is looking for a volunteer to lead and facilitate 80129 and St. Mary parishioners are invited to participate. safe environment training classes for new employees and Please consider signing up to walk the sidewalk during PP's volunteers. Training classes are offered quarterly at the working hours: convenience of the Facilitator and generally run for about 2 - 2 1/2 hours, and consist of showing two short videos Mon and Tues 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. and a discussion. Materials for the class are prepared by, Wed and Thurs 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and database administration is maintained by, the parish Fri 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. staff. Facilitators themselves are trained by the Archdio- Sat 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. cese and coordinate with the parish staff. Please contact Visit www.40daysforlife.com/littleton to see the calendar and Linda for more information at 720.502.3320 | lsh- sign-up. [email protected]. Sunday, February 14, 2021 | The Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Worship and Reflection Gospel Meditation The Church, as a voice of the Gospel, proclaims the sacredness of all human Questions of the Week life. Everyone created by God is fashioned in God’s image and has Divine Reflect and Respond To Scripture DNA at the center of their soul. God never leaves what God creates but always First Reading: remains intimately bound to what he has given form. Everyone has a place and Ancient Israel isolated those with leprosy because they have received the gift of Divine Blessing, nobody deserves to feel fearing the disease would spread to others. inferior, unworthy, unwanted, unclean or marginalized. Even the most broken In what way can this be seen as a form of of souls has a place. We, the Body of Christ, have the privilege and responsibil- compassion? ity to give voice to the voiceless. The cries of the little one in his or her moth- er’s womb are just as sacred as the cries of one who is homeless and hungry. The migrant deserves our attention as much as the forgotten elderly and even PSALM the prisoner, with a heart hardened by anger and resentment, deserves respect I turn to you, Lord, and dignity. in time of trouble, and you fill me with the joy of salvation. (Ps 32) Second Reading: Paul places a high value on avoiding unnec- essary conflict. Why do you think this is an important virtue for a Christian? Gospel: The man healed of leprosy disobeyed Jesus’ command not to share with others what had happened. Why do you think the man did so? ©LPi The Gospel of Life is often hard to swallow, and we would rather keep those we consider unclean, different or unfixable in a place by themselves. It is hard to see them with us, but they deserve to be. There is far too much violence in this world and the result of that violence is the assault on human life. Many are forced to leave the place they call home in search of safer ground, finding few if any along the way who will help them.