Later this week, the Chrism Mass is celebrated in every cathedral in the world in preparation for the Easter Triduum. Only a bishop can consecrate chrism, pure olive oil infused with rich fragrance, so this liturgy is a sign of the unity of the local Church and the bishop’s ministry to all who will be baptized and confirmed in our parishes in the coming year.

Chrism is also used in the ordination of priests and bishops and the consecration of new altars. Two other sacramental oils, the unscented olive oil for catechumens and for the sick, will be blessed in the same liturgy and transported carefully to every parish by the beginning of the Triduum.

Remember when Noah’s dove returned with the sign of the world’s rebirth? The dove carried an olive branch, a pledge that God was breathing the world to life again. Yet olives require human nurture. Olives are inedible unless they are cured by human labor. Olive trees grow on sunny slopes, away from the shade of city walls, so they can only be properly tended, cured, and laboriously pressed in peace time.

The Chrism Mass with its olive oils expresses God’s deepest desires for us, and our resolve to place our lives in service to God’s saving, healing, loving plan.

Help contribute to the St. Paul Building Fund, to help us reduce our Diocesan Loan for the Religious Education Center. We are planning another Bus Trip—we are going to Feather Falls Casino:

Date: May 2

Boarding Time 8:45am

Departure Time: 9:00am

Location: St. Paul parking lot

Cost: $25.00

Refund: $12;00 cash

$3:00 food coupon

For more information call:

Emilia Dones: 849-5617, or

Naty Fontillas 362-7541, or

Paz Cajucom 599-9166, or

Norma Bolante 688-8769, or

Rose Basos 381-3845.

This seems like an unlikely topic to address in the bulletin, unfortunately many have forgotten we are in our Father’s House when we are in church. We would not in our own homes, stick chewing gum, when it has lost its flavor, under a table, or throw it on the floor. However, we are finding stale chewing gum under the pew seats, in the book holders, or worse yet on the floor, even on the rug. PLEASE, deposit used gum in the trash receptacles. This is a sanitary way to dispose of the gum, and will prevent parishioners putting their hands on the end of a pew and having gum stick to their fingers, or stepping on it and tracking it throughout the church. THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION !

• Lectors (Ministers of the Word)
• Hospitaility
• Eucharistic Minisiters
• Adult Alter Servers
• Ministers to the Sick and Homebound