News for July
Initial Greeting from Father Julio
I am very happy to start this new chapter with all of you, disciples of Christ who walk in this community of Mary Immaculate. As Saint Agustín once said, I am for you a shepherd and with you a Christian. I am a disciple that needs the support of each and every one of you to carry out the dream of God in this community where God has placed us.
And what is God’s dream? that we make present his Kingdom, that we be on earth ambassadors of Heaven, our homeland; because we are in the world, but not we are of the world. We have been sent to make the Kingdom of God present, to build it, putting love where there is lack of love, peace where there is disturbance, and communion where there is discord. In a few words, to be light in the midst of the darkness of this world.
We know well that we can only give light if we connect to the power source, God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. To be temples of God, keeping his word, that He be our King and Lord. So we can take it to our families, jobs and wherever we go.
Seek first the Kingdom of God, the rest is not so important, the rest is it will be put in its place, it will be added to us, when we put God in his, of first.
If you are not born of water and the Spirit you cannot live the Kingdom of God. We need to open ourselves to the Spirit to be children of God, to live the fruits and gifts of him and thus do God’s desire comes true
“The spirit of Yahweh will rest on him: the spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of counsel and fortitude, a spirit of knowledge and fear of Yahweh. And he inspire in the fear of Yahveh. He will not judge by appearances, nor will he sentence by hearsay. He will judge with justice the weak, and he will sentence with righteousness the poor of the earth. Justice will be the girdle of his waist, truth the belt of his flanks. The wolf will be neighbors and the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the bull and the cub shall graze together, and a small child will drive them. The cow and the bear will graze, their young will lie down together, the lion, like the oxen, he will eat straw. He will poke the suckling into the hole of the asp, and in the hura from the viper the newly weaned will put his hand. No one will do harm, no one will do wrong at all my holy mountain, because the earth will be full of the knowledge of Yahweh, as covered by the waters the sea.” Isaiah 11,2ss
Those led by the Spirit of God are the sons of God. instinct no longer guides us carnal that divides us, but the Holy Spirit that unites us.
LET’S BE BUILDERS OF COMMUNION, LET US MAKE PRESENT OF THE LOVE OF GOD.
Confirmation / Youth Ministry Program
CONFIRMATION be taking REGISTRATIONS beginning July through August. Monday-Thursday from 4-6pm in the Youth Ministry office. Be sure to bring Baptism and First Communion certificates along with a $100 deposit. CONFIRMATION YOUTH PROGRAM is looking for English Catechists. If you are interested please call the Confirmation office. Summer BIBLE STUDIES will be on Thursdays 6:30-8:00pm in the youth ministry office. All High School students are invited. For more information please call the Youth Ministry office at (818) 899-0278, ext 7.
Did You Know?
Healthy vs. unhealthy relationships
Knowing the difference between healthy and unhealthy relationships can help prevent human trafficking. Healthy relationships are based on respect, honesty, and trust. In these relationships, partners communicate and help hold healthy, safe boundaries. In unhealthy relationships, one partner holds power, forcing another to sacrifice friendships, family, and even emotional well-being. These relationships are often abusive. Talk with young adults and teenagers about these differences, how to build healthy relationships, and recognize the signs of unhealthy ones. For more information, read “Healthy vs. Unhealthy Relationships” at https://www.missingkids.org.