The Faces of SJB: Ushers and Greeters

Dear Friends in Christ,

When you have traveled to other places in our country on vacation or business, I’m sure you have had the opportunity to visit other parishes. Often the first person you meet at Sunday Mass is the parish greeter or usher. How he/she receives you often makes a lasting impression.

This task was performed by the porter in earlier times. His/her role was to welcome newcomers, ring the church bell for prayer, and keep order during the liturgical services. While there have been some changes in this ministry over the years, the ushers and greeters remain an important part of the supporting network of any parish. This week I would like to recognize these two groups of parishioners who perform a very important service in our parish. Please join me in thanking the Ministers of Hospitality/Ushers and Greeters who act as host and hostesses and warmly welcome the people of God to each liturgical celebration as well as perform various duties as required of them at the weekend Masses, Holy Day Masses, and many other special occasions. Their faithful and continuous service to our Parish is greatly appreciated.

USHERS

• Jay Smith - Head Usher, Ray Quigley, Rene Duazo
• Bob Augustine - Captain, Marilyn Wilson, Rolan Dizon
• Roy English - Captain, Duane Devincenzi, Joe Beno
• Frank Maiocco - Captain, Lito Barbar, Bart Arrington
• Ben Moratin - Captain, Chad Engroff , Edgar Rojo
• John Barnes - Captain, Denis Long, Bill Almeida
• Tom O’Brien, Alexander Kuang, Gordon Powers
• Jack Dignan, Rene Duazo, Bill Lichtenstein
• Phil Hunt, Dick Rhia

GREETERS

• Mario Banura, Leader
  
• Mari Beas
  
• Margaret Roles
• Jane McKnight
  
• Leeann Castillo
  
• Theresa Beno
• Jeffrey Farrier
  
• Stephanie Castillo
  
• Arcelia Kennedy
• Phoebe Madriaga
  
• Kaitlin Castillo
  
• Sally Frei
• Eulalia Pino
  
• Judith Phillips
  
• Avelina Agunod
• Mary Fran Kusch
  
• Pat Engdahl
  
• Guadalupe Perez
• Andrea Casella
  
• Oscar Silva
  
• Suzette Ruiz
• Zayda Arcangel
  
• Darlene Powers
  
• Maria Ramos
• Gina Aliazas

Married and engaged couples, please also remember the special presentation tomorrow evening (Mon. Jan.08) in the hall at 7:30 PM on natural family planning. The method presented helps couples when to have children and promotes open couple communication. It is also approved by the Church and good for your health. Invite your friend.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Sarah's Law

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we prepare to commemorate the infamous Roe vs. Wade decision that has caused so much suffering and death in our land, I would like to call your attention to a new law that is being proposed to protect the lives of teenage girls and their children.

“Sarah’s Law” is named for a 15 year old girl who died after an abortion. Unknown to her the abortionist had carelessly lacerated an organ while performing the abortion and had neglected to inform her or treat the laceration. He sent her home and she died within a few days of severe infections. Her parents could have saved her…if they had known.

This new law is a Family Notification Initiative which would require a doctor to notify a parent or guardian of a girl under 18 before performing anabortion. In addition, Sarah’s Law provides that, if a minor girl is from an abusive home, the doctor may instead notify another adult family member (such as an aunt, grandmother, or older sibling over 21) of the pending abortion. The doctor must also notify a child welfare agency of the abuse, so that the girl receives the protection she needs. Sarah’s Law will protect young girls by making sure that someone who knows and cares about them is aware of their pregnancy situation. Secret abortions allow young girls to be sexually exploited and coerced by older men, as well as exposing them to injury and even death at the hands of abortionists.

More than thirty states currently have parental involvement laws in place. These states have seen a significant reduction in teen pregnancy and teen abortion rates. Now California needs Sarah’s Law. From now until the end of March over 700,000 signatures statewide will be collected to ensure Sarah’s Law will qualify for the November 2008 ballot.

Today and next Sunday (Jan. 27), parishes throughout the state will be collecting petition signatures after each Mass. We hope to collect at least 500 signatures. Pope John Paul II wrote: “All that we do as the ‘people of life and for life’ should be interpreted correctly and welcomed with favor. When the Church declares that unconditional respect for the right to life of every innocent person-from conception to natural death-is one of the pillars on which every civil society stands, she ‘wants simply to promote a human State. A State which recognizes the defense of the fundamental rights of the human person as its primary duty.’” (The Gospel of Life, #101)

Please promote Pope John Paul II’s Culture of Life and sign a petition for Sarah’s Law.

May God bless you and your families.

Fr. Hildebrand

Adoration Chapel's Holiday Schedule

Dear Adorers,

The following schedule will be followed for Christmas:

Tabernacle panels will be closed from 4 PM on Dec. 24 to 6 PM on Dec. 25 due to the Mass schedule in the church.

Questions? Email us at adoration@sjboc.org

Appreciation and Thanks

Dear Friends in Christ,

As we approach the end of 2007, I would like to show my appreciation to various groups in the parish who work very hard to make St. John the Baptist Church the great worshiping community that it is. First, I must thank the priests who collaborate with me:

Fr. Norbert, Fr. Philip, Fr. Pascal, and Fr. Luke.

They are brother priests, confreres, and a great support in ministry. May the Lord reward them for their service. Next I would like to recognize a group of lay persons who are members of the Liturgy Committee:

• Bob Grant - Music
• Edgar Rojo - Extraordinary Ministers
• Jay Smith - Ushers
• Arnis Dela Cusack- Youth and Confirmation
• Zomy Herman - Environment
• Maryann Ngo - Vietnamese Community/ Environment
• Santiago Loera - Spanish Community/Music
• Dean Dobkins - Lectors
  

These persons help in planning parish liturgies, especially those that involve larger celebrations in 3 languages. They have helped plan our Thanksgiving Day Mass, Easter Vigil, and Corpus Christi Mass and Procession. I am grateful to them for the time and talent they have shared for the benefit of our community. With 25 Masses celebrated here weekly, there is much to keep them busy.

Do you have a talent or interest to share? Is it music? We have a wonderful parish choir. Is it teaching? We have an excellent Religious Education program with fine young students eager to learn. Even if you don’t teach, you could be a classroom aide. Those who are active in the parish make friends and find fulfillment. We also have an altar society to care for our altar and linens. Those interested in the Bible should attend our Wednesday Bible study, which could lead to a ministry as lector. There are many other groups and ministries in our parish that offer opportunities for service and personal enrichment. Finally, there is our Perpetual Adoration. This is a blessing waiting to happen to you! Those of you who have already signed up to spend an hour with the Lord know how He has blessed you. I invite others to join us.

Have a blessed week.

Fr. Hildebrand

The Golden Compass and Catholicism

Dear Friends in Christ,

It is the duty of the pastor to protect his flock from any dangers that threaten. It is in that spirit that I write to you about the recently released movie, The Golden Compass. The promoters of this movie are marketing it as a children’s film and have cleverly chosen the Christmas season for its release because it is based on a trilogy of “children’s” novels by Philip Pullman, a professed atheist from England. While the movie appears to promote ethical values, it openly ridicules Christianity. Many Catholic and other Christian organizations have come out against this movie because it opposes all organized religion.

The hope of the producers is that people will see the movie and then buy the three book series for children as Christmas gifts. Even atheist societies are somewhat critical of the movie because it doesn’t go as far as the book does in bashing Christians. That is what makes this so dangerous. The movie is a wolf-in-sheep’s clothing because it clothes its anti-religious message as a children’s fantasy tale. You may think that this is just another children’s movie like the Chronicles of Narnia, but Phillip Pullman has gone on record that he dislikes C.S. Lewis. Not only that, he openly states that his purpose in writing the trilogy “His Dark Materials” is to kill the idea of God in the minds of children. We can only hope that the mixed reviews the movie has already received will be enough to limit its audience.

You who are parents should read the reviews of this movie. A very informative website is www.snopes.com. It is not Catholic or Christian, but it simply an informative website that investigates urban legends to find out whether they’re true or not. They have extensive information on The Golden Compass. Philip Pullman’s claim that all organized religion is evil is not fair. While everyone would admit that organized religion includes individuals who commit terrible crimes, we are not thereby permitted to conclude that organized religion is itself evil. That our Church has had its share of first class sinners is proven by history (and even by contemporary events). However, the presence of sinners in the Church is not a proof of her illegitimacy as a divine institution. Even St. Paul admitted that he was a sinner, and so are we all. The Church’s legitimacy (and the legitimacy of Christianity as a whole) is derived from the holiness of her divine Founder, our Lord Jesus Christ. He came to this earth and was born to save man kind from sin. That some choose to reject His way and follow the path of evil is a sign of their free will. God does not force anyone to love Him. He wants us to make that choice freely.

Pullman’s writing shows that he does not understand the constitution of the Church. He makes a caricature of the Church and sets that up as the evil force that crushes people’s freedom. But his sense of absolute freedom from moral norms sounds like the freedom St. Peter warns against when he says, “Be free, yet without using freedom as a pretext for evil” (I Peter 2, 16).

Happy Advent,

Fr. Hildebrand

Advent 2007

Dear Friends in Christ,

The season of Advent begins a new year of grace for God’s people. Grace is a free gift from God, not something God owes us for good deeds or good behavior. Nevertheless, the good works that God inspires in us can gain us his grace because of our union with Jesus in Baptism. “Filial adoption, in making us partakers by grace in the divine nature, can bestow true merit on us as a result of God’s gratuitous justice. This is our right by grace… making us ‘co-heirs’ with Christ and worthy of obtaining ‘the promised inheritance of eternal life.” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, #2009)

Of the different ways that we can merit God’s grace, the corporal works of mercy deserve special mention during this season of giving. Among these works are feeding the hungry and sheltering the homeless. During this season some of our parishioners are serving at the Armory in Santa Ana or helping at S.O.S. (Save Our Selves) or other charitable works. When we serve our brothers and sisters in need we know that we are serving Christ Himself because He identifies with the hungry, the homeless, and all those in need.

During this holy season of Advent we remember that Jesus came among us in the poverty of the stable 2000 years ago. He will come again at an unknown time in glory to judge all people. Let
us make it our aim to receive Christ when He comes today in the poor and the outcast. Thus we will make this season a time of grace and salvation with a joy beyond our expectations.

Sincerely,

Fr. Hildbebrand

“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship”

Dear Friends in Christ,

The bishops of the United States recently held their annual meeting in Baltimore. At that meeting they prepared a document “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship”. The document is directed to American Catholics as they study the issues and the candidates in making choices as responsible citizens. This is not a “voter’s guide”, but rather a guide to making intelligent decisions based on the moral law and rooted in the Gospel.

The citizen is called to live the Gospel within society and work to promote the common good of all, especially in a government “by the people and for the people”. This is a type of “social charity” (cf. Deus Caritas Est, Benedict XVI). As Christians we should be known as those who love and serve one another, both at home and in social life. That is why the Catholic Church has always been active in charitable works for the most vulnerable in society, the poor, the outcast, the persecuted.

In that spirit of charity the Catholic citizen is responsible for forming his/her conscience in order to make the right decisions in political and moral questions. “Conscience is a judgment of reason whereby the human person recognizes the moral quality of a concrete act…It is by the judgment of conscience that man perceives and recognizes the prescriptions of the divine law” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 1778). Now the divine law is the norm in all cases; it is the inviolable source and standard for all human laws. Therefore, any human law which contradicts the divine law is fundamentally flawed. A person would not be bound to obey such a law.

The political climate in the United States today presents the Catholic citizen with some serious moral challenges. The bishops list several of these in their document. The first and most fundamental right is the right to life. Citizens are responsible for opposing laws that would permit the destruction of innocent human life. Legalized abortion is a scourge on our nation’s conscience. The Catholic citizen must oppose abortion and any legislation that would promote it or any other immoral practice such as euthanasia, assisted suicide, or human cloning. Other themes include the support of the traditional family and respect for God’s creation.

With regard to voting, while Catholics are not single issue voters, a candidate’s immoral position on one issue that is gravely evil may lead them not to vote for that candidate. Besides the obligation to avoid doing evil, the Christian must also seek to follow the positive law for the common good. Citizens must seek to provide for basic human needs, food, shelter, just wages for workers, health care, justice for immigrants, and education.

The complete text and a summary of this new document can be read at www.usccb.org. This is required reading for all of us who seek to contribute positively in the political arena.

May God bless you.

Fr. Hildebrand

Letter from Fr. Francis Reginald

Dear Friends in Christ,

The following letter arrived from Father Francis Reginald, who preached our Mission Co-op in September. Each year the Propagation of the Faith assigns preachers from Mission countries to appeal to your church of St. John the Baptist, to obtain help, to alleviate the pain and suffering of our brothers and sisters in other countries. This year the Mission Appeal was for the Diocese of Mannar in Sri Lanka. I was privileged to make this Mission Appeal in your church on September 8 and 9 at all the Masses, on behalf of the people of Mannar Diocese.

We are proud to record that the sum of $12000 was raised to help the people of Mannar Diocese, especially to take care of the basic needs of the children who have been orphaned and the elderly people who have been affected by Tsunami and the ongoing brutal Civil War for twenty five years. The Catholic Church is deeply involved in humanitarian work among the suffering people of Sri Lanka, where the majority of the people are Buddhists and Hindus. This way of witnessing brings Christ’s love and compassion to the people. Pope John Paul II said, “Our faith in Christ opens our eyes to see beyond our own parish community to the life of the Universal Church and the needs of the world around us.” These children and the affected fami-
lies who are blessed with your generous help are praying for you and remembering you with love and gratitude.

It is incumbent upon me to thank you most gratefully for your concern, care, prayers and generous financial support, on behalf of the suffering people of Mannar Diocese. A famous poet William Wordsworth once reminded us that “More things are wrought by prayer than the world dreams of.” In this spirit, your generosity was a response to our prayers, in the hope that God would reward all those who trust Him for many blessings that come to those who trust in His ways. “Thoughts are deeper than words but feelings are deeper than thoughts” so goes the saying. With a feeling of profound gratitude and love that just cannot be expressed in words I say a big “THANK YOU”. May I plead with you to continue to pray for Peace in the world, in Sri Lanka and for one another.

May God bless you.

With love, prayers and gratitude,

Fr. Francis Reginald

"Extraordinary Form" of the the Mass

Dear Friends in Christ,

As you know this week we will held an informational meeting on the traditional Latin Mass, which Pope Benedict calls the “extraordinary form” of the Mass. The fact that it is the extraordinary form indicates that there is also an “ordinary form”, which is the form in use since 1970. By calling the old Latin Mass “extraordinary” the Pope wants to tell us that it does not replace the ordinary form, but offers another use of the same rite.

Essentially both forms are the same because the Mass is one sacrifice of Christ. If you come to the meeting on Monday night you will see how they are the same and in what ways they differ. Here at St. John’ s we strive to present the liturgy as faithfully as possible according to the authentic Roman rite. We recognize that the liturgy is not something created or invented by the presiding celebrant according to his own whims and opinions. Rather the liturgy is something handed down to us by the Church. It is the work of centuries of refining and distilling what was entrusted to us by the Lord Jesus Himself, who said, “Do this in memory of Me”. The order of worship, the prayers, chants, and readings have been developed ever since the early Church to form an organic whole that inspires those present while it offers praise to God.

If we are interested in the possibility of offering Mass in the extraordinary form at St. John’s it is because of our concern for the spiritual welfare of our people. We want to increase reverence at our Sunday Masses. We want to use texts that are inspired by the Scriptures. We want to offer music that comes from the rich tradition of our Church. Can we celebrate Mass in Latin in the ordinary form? Yes, that is also a possibility. We could offer a Mass in the ordinary form with the current cycle of readings in English, but with the chants and prayers in Latin. We could also have Communion kneeling along the edge of the sanctuary and more traditional elements that were never forbidden. Would the parish prefer this to the traditional Latin Mass? You must make your voice heard on this subject. Our informational meeting will spell out clearly how the two forms compare with each other. Hopefully with this explanation we can make a decision that will respond to the spiritual needs of the parish.

It is my fervent wish that our efforts will enable us to profit spiritually from the Mass so that we can go forth from our Sunday worship giving thanks to God by works of charity.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Pope's Response to the Southern California Fires

Dear Friends in Christ,

Here is a letter from The Holy Father and the Apostolic Nuncio in response to the recent fires in southern California.

APOSTOLIC NUNCIATURE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
3339 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20008-3610

Prot. No. – 7303 29 October 2007

Your Excellency:

The Secretariat of State of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has instructed me to convey the following message:

“His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI was deeply saddened to learn of the tragic loss of life and damage to homes and other properties caused by extensive fires in Southern California and wishes to express his sympathy and closeness in prayer to those affected. He also offers his prayerful encouragement to the firefighters, rescue workers and all involved in bringing relief and support to the victims of this disaster. Commending the deceased to the loving mercy of Almighty God, His Holiness invokes upon their grieving families and all those injured, abundant divine graces of strength and comfort.”

Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone
Secretary of State

I take this opportunity to join the Holy Father in extending to you and to the Faithful whom you shepherd, an assurance of my prayers. May Our Lady of Consolation intercede for the people of California during this difficult time. With sentiments of esteem, I remain

Fraternally yours in Christ,
Archbishop Pietro Sambi
Apostolic Nuncio

__________________________
The Most Reverend Tod Brown
Bishop of Orange
2811 E. Villa Real Drive
P. O. Box 14195
Orange, CA 92863-1595

Tridentine Mass Responses

Dear Friends in Christ,

Here are two more questions on the subject of the extraordinary form of the Mass (known as the “Tridentine” Mass). They were answered by Pope Benedict XVI in his letter to the bishops.

Q. Does this extended permission to use the extraordinary form detract from the authority of the Second Vatican Council?

Answer: No. The Mass as we know it today continues to be the ordinary form of the Mass. The last version of the Mass published under Pope John XXIII in 1962 will now be used as an extraordinary form. It is not appropriate to speak of these two versions of the Roman Missal as if they were “two rites”. Rather, it is a matter of a twofold use of one and the same rite.

Regarding the use of the 1962 Missal, this Missal was never abolished or forbidden. At the time of the introduction of the new Missal in 1970 it did not seem necessary to issue specific norms for the possible use of the earlier Missal. Later, however, it became apparent that a substantial number of people remained strongly attached to this earlier form of the Mass. Some reasons for this attachment arose from the fact that in many places celebrations were not faithful to the prescriptions of the new Missal. A certain “creativity” was in vogue which frequently led to deformations of the liturgy which were hard to bear.

Pope John Paul II in 1988 provided guidelines for the use of the 1962 Missal. They were a general appeal to the bishops to respond to the legitimate aspirations of the faithful who requested this usage of the Roman rite. Not only older persons who knew the Mass under the 1962 Missal but also younger persons have discovered this form and felt its attraction. They have found in it a form of encounter with the Mystery of the Holy Eucharist, particularly suited to them. Thus the need has arisen for a clearer juridical regulation.

Q. Won’t the wider use of the 1962 Missal lead to divisions within the parish community?

Answer: No. The use of the older Missal presupposes a certain degree of liturgical formation and some knowledge of the Latin language; neither of these is found very often. Already from this point of view we can see that the new Missal will certainly remain the ordinary Form of the Mass. The two forms of the Mass can be mutually enriching. New saints and some of the new prefaces can and should be inserted in the old Missal. The “Ecclesia Dei” Commission will study the practical possibilities in this regard. The celebration of the Mass according to the Missal of 1970 should begin to demonstrate more and more the sense of the sacred which attracts many people to the former usage. The most sure guarantee that the new Missal can unite parish communities and be loved by them consists in its being celebrated with great reverence in harmony with the liturgical directives. This will bring out the spiritual richness and the theological depth of this Missal.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Tridentine Mass Insights

Dear Friends in Christ,

Here are further questions and answers on the traditional Latin Mass.

Q. What have Pope John Paul II and Benedict XVI said about the Tridentine Mass?

Answer: In his 1980 letter to the Bishops on the Holy Eucharist, Pope John Paul II said: "There are also those people who, having been educated on the basis of the old liturgy in Latin, experience the lack of this 'one language', which in all the world was an expression of the unity of the Church and which, through its dignified character, elicited a profound sense of the Eucharistic mystery. It is therefore necessary to show, not only understanding, but also full respect towards these sentiments and desires. As far as possible, these sentiments and desires are to be accommodated."

Then in 1988 the same pope wrote: “Respect must everywhere be shown for the feelings of all those who are attached to the Latin liturgical tradition by a wide and generous application of the directives already issued some time ago by the Apostolic See for the use of the Roman Missal according to the typical edition of 1962.”

In July of the current year Pope Benedict wrote: “It is permissible to celebrate the Sacrifice of the Mass following the typical edition of the Roman Missal promulgated by Bl. John XXIII in 1962 and never abrogated, as an extraordinary form of the Liturgy of the Church.” In the same document Pope Benedict states that if there is a “stable group of the faithful” a pastor may provide for the celebration of this “extraordinary form” on Sundays and/or weekdays.

Q. Does this new permission to celebrate the traditional Latin Mass call into question the reforms of the Second Vatican Council?

Answer: No. Pope Benedict calls the traditional Latin Mass the extraordinary form. He recognizes that the ordinary form is the one currently used which was developed after the Second Vatican Council.

Please submit your questions or comments on the use of the traditional Latin Mass to www.sjboc.org.

Christ’s peace to all.


-Fr. Hildebrand

Latin Mass FAQs

Dear Friends in Christ,

Here are some FAQ’s (frequently asked questions) regarding the traditional Latin Mass that may help us to understand the recent letter of Pope Benedict which extended wider permission for the celebration of this form of the Mass.

Q. What is the traditional Latin Mass (aka the “Tridentine” Mass)?

Answer: This form of the Mass was originally codified after the Council of Trent (hence the label “Tridentine”) in 1570. It was basically the same form of Mass that had been in use for more than a century. It remained largely unchanged until 1965. After the Second Vatican Council called for a reform of the liturgy, the new rite of Mass that we know today was developed.

Q. What is the difference between the Tridentine Mass and the new rite of Mass?

Answer: While Latin is the original language of both liturgical texts, the older form of Mass was said entirely in Latin while the new missal permits use of the vernacular language; because it called for full, active participation, the use of a local congregation's language became customary.

• With the exception of readings for the feast days of individual saints, the Tridentine Mass has a one-year cycle of Scripture readings. The Vatican II liturgy has a three-year cycle for Sunday readings and a two-year cycle for weekday readings.
  

• The old penitential "prayers at the foot of the altar," recited by priests and other ministers before Mass, were replaced by the penitential rite within the Mass, recited by the entire congregation.
  

• In the Tridentine Mass, the first half of the liturgy was called the Mass of the Catechumens and almost always included a reading from one of the New Testament epistles and from one of the four Gospels. The new Liturgy of the Word, in accordance with ancient church tradition, almost always begins with a passage from the Old Testament, then a New Testament reading and a passage from the Gospel.

• The Liturgy of the Eucharist, formerly called the Mass of the Faithful, begins with the preparation of the gifts. The old offertory prayers were revised in the new liturgy to avoid what some people saw as a duplication of the eucharistic prayers.
  

• Instead of one eucharistic prayer (in the traditional Mass), there are now nine -- four for general Sunday and weekday use, two for Masses focusing on reconciliation and three for Masses with children.

• The new Mass eliminated the recitation at the end of every Mass of what was known as the "last Gospel" the beginning of the Gospel of St. John.

• A priest celebrated the Tridentine Mass facing east, which -- given the layout of most churches -- meant he celebrated with his back to the congregation. Since the promulgation of the Roman Missal, the priest normally faces the congregation.
  

Q. Didn't the Second Vatican Council forbid Latin Masses?

Answer: Not at all. The Council, in its Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy, said: "The use of the Latin language is to be preserved". The Council merely gave permission for the limited introduction of the vernacular (or local language) into certain parts of the Mass when celebrated in public.

More questions about the traditional Mass next week.

Do you have a question about the Mass? Please ask by logging into our parish website www.sjboc.org and submitting your question.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Latin Mass at SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

Recently I met with the Pastoral Council and spoke about the interest of some parishioners in the traditional Latin Mass. After I explained the difference between the Mass as we know it today and the earlier form that was in use until 1970, they advised that I should have a meeting with all those interested to explain clearly what the traditional Mass is and how it compares with the newer form. I have therefore set a date, Monday, November 12 at 7PM in the hall for an explanatory meeting.

If you or anyone you know is interested please have them attend this meeting. It will be necessary to have a large and stable group of parishioners who are committed to attending this Mass weekly for us to dedicate a time on Sunday.

Related to this subject of the liturgy, I hope you found Bob Grant’s recent columns on Sacred Music informative. I have asked Bob to collect these articles in a booklet for future reference.

Thank you for your generosity to “Pennies from Heaven” this weekend. Our care for the most vulnerable little humans and their mothers will certainly be rewarded. We look forward to the Marian Days celebrations this week. Let’s make this year’s Rosary procession bigger than ever as we pray for world peace.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Prayer Aids

Dear Friends in Christ,

It has been some time since I have written my pastor’s letter. I am grateful to Bob Grant for his recent series on sacred music, which we hope to publish in booklet form soon.

One purpose for music in the liturgy is to enhance the celebration and make it more beautiful. Music serves as a setting for the liturgical text much like a fine gold setting might enhance a precious gem. This setting helps to raise the mind and heart to God in prayer.

Another aid to prayer is great art. The relief image in our sanctuary, the statues, and other artwork remind us of the holy people they represent. They recall a passage in the Bible (such as “Behold the Lamb of God”, the theme of our relief image) or they remind us of the heroic deeds of the saints.

The church furnishings are made to help us in our prayer. They are so constructed as to lend support to the liturgical action and they are ornamented to show they are dedicated to a sacred purpose.

As we continue to improve the liturgy at St. John the Baptist, we also want to focus on the Liturgy of the Hours, which we pray daily in the church. The Liturgy of the Hours aka Christian Prayer is the official public prayer of the whole Church. Day after day, from sunrise to sunset a sacrifice of praise is offered to God from the lips of his faithful people. In the past this prayer was thought to be the exclusive domain of monks, priests, and nuns. Today, however, since the Second Vatican Council, this form of prayer has become a standard practice in parishes throughout the world. You may have happened to arrive early for morning or evening Mass at our church and were surprised to discover the priests praying aloud with a group of people. We pray Morning Prayer before the 6:30AM Mass on weekdays, Daytime Prayer before the 8:30AM Mass, and Evening Prayer before the 5:30PM Mass. The priests are stationed in the sanctuary during this time.

Chanting or reciting the Liturgy of the Hours in choir is the official task of canons (not “cannons” (big guns)). Canons are clerics who are attached to a particular church and who officiate at the liturgy on behalf of the people. The place from which they recite the Liturgy of the Hours is located in the sanctuary near the altar. Specifically these seats are called the “choir” because the clergy sing and pray the Church’s official prayer from the choir stalls located there. These stalls are constructed in a connected way so that they are separated by arm rests as in this photo. Part of our church’s renovation project that we are working to complete is the installation of two sets of choir stalls on either side of the sanctuary. These will be constructed by the same artisans who installed the art in our sanctuary. Would you like to share in this project? Please consider an offering for the choir stalls so that the sacrifice of praise will continue to rise to God’s throne from the voices of our priests and people.

God bless you,

Fr. Hildebrand

Summer Vacations and Retreats

Dear Friends in Christ,

Have you ever wondered if Jesus took a vacation? The gospels tell us that Jesus visited friends like Martha and Mary. He also went on boat trips on the Sea of Galilee. He was on one of those trips when the storm blew up and he calmed the waves of the sea. He also ate dinner with Simon the Pharisee and Matthew the tax collector. Once He invited his disciples “Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while” (Mark 6, 31). Then we know that He provided a wonderful “picnic” at least two or three times for thousands of people by multiplying the bread and fish. What can we learn from these events that can help us understand how vacation time can profit us?

First, we see that whenever Jesus took time off from preaching, teaching and working miracles he was together with others. The company of His disciples and friends was an integral part of his recreational time. Our vacations are enriched by the presence of family and friends, whether we travel together or spend time visiting them. Our experience of new places and sights is more rewarding because others help us to appreciate them.

Jesus also took advantage of “deserted places” when he wanted to get away. Now He didn’t necessarily take them to the desert; a deserted place could also refer to a country location, away from the bustle of the city. We might think of going to the mountains, to a lake or to a National Park or Forest. Natural settings seem to enhance our ability to relax and enjoy the beauty of God’s creation. Because they led a simple life Jesus and the disciples were not burdened by all the things that are supposed to make our life easier but really tend to complicate life. Many people try to take with them on vacation almost everything but the kitchen sink. It seems like vacation just provides a different location for doing the same things we do at home, TV, video games, iPods, cell phones, etc. Why not leave behind all the things that clutter up our life and experience a new sense of well-being and freedom.

Whether our vacation takes us across town or across the globe we should try to imitate Jesus and the disciples. Share the joy of recreation with others and take time to relax in God’s creation. Finally, don’t forget prayer and Mass. One of the joys of vacation time is the opportunity to experience the Catholic Church in another location. Since St. John’s is only minutes from John Wayne Airport I often meet people visiting us from different parts of the country. They always say how much they like our church and the liturgy here. If you’re looking for a church in the area where you are vacationing, check out Masstimes.org

Enjoy your vacation, drive safely, and don’t forget to support us while you’re away.

United in Prayer,

SJB New Fiscal Year

Dear Friends in Christ,

“If you have no money, be polite” – Danish proverb

It’s that time of year again, the time we report to you our financial status. With the end of June we come to the end of a fiscal year, and you’ll find our financial report on an insert in today’s bulletin. As you can see we don’t have a very fat bank account. That’s because we have been making payments on our parish debt this year. Debt! What debt? Perhaps you forgot but the debt of our church renovation still hangs over us. However, we are making some progress on paying it off.

This year’s PSA was better than last year (and last year we were recognized by the Diocese for making 2.5 times over our goal). Since last month we have been receiving rebate checks from PSA because we have already reached our goal. As you continue to complete your pledges all the money now returns to our parish to help pay the debt and other important improvements like the re-paving of the parking lot.

More good news is the fact that our newly envisioned parish festival netted over $49,000. This compares very favorably to $30,000 and $31,000 for 2005 and 2006. Not having to pay a large rental fee for carnival rides made it possible for us to realize a greater profit on other aspects of the festival. People really enjoyed themselves, there was more parking, and we didn’t have to change the Sunday Mass schedule. I look forward to our next festival which I’m sure will be
another great celebration of the St. John’s family.

As we complete one fiscal year and begin another I want to recognize all the members of St. John’s parish family who have supported our ministries so faithfully. You have shown yourselves true stewards of God’s generous gifts. At this time I would like to challenge all of us
to renew our commitment to the parish and its apostolate to the Catholics of Costa Mesa and surrounding areas. All of us are disciples of the Lord; He asks us to be good servants and stewards of his many gifts. Our reward for this cannot be measured by silver or gold.
It is the reward of the good and faithful servant who enters into the joy of the Lord.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Sunday Best

Dear Friends in Christ,

We have all heard the proverb, “Clothes make the man”. In other words, what we wear often reveals something about our character. Today I would like to address the delicate but necessary topic of proper attire in church. Here in southern California we have a very casual attitude toward dress as compared to other parts of the country or the world. You may have read the article in the daily pilot recently that Huntington Beach had to pass a law after a man was caught walking in his yard in his birthday suit. Sometimes it takes an extreme case to make a point, but the fact that people will go to extremes makes laws necessary. People who go about in extreme degrees of undress are living proof of original sin and its sorry effects. In other words, we are inclined to sin already; provocative clothing only makes matters worse.


Someone might object, well God knows us and is aware that we don’t mean to provoke scandal by our dress. Yes, God does know us, but we don’t wear clothing for God’s sake but for our neighbor’s. God knows us more intimately than any significant other ever will. God gave Adam and Eve clothing because of their fallen state. Since all of us share that fallen state, clothing is a form of spiritual protection against our lower inclinations.

I’m inclined to believe that many people are not conscious of the affect their clothing (or lack of clothing) has on others. However, what we wear does usually reflect our sense of propriety. I know that certain Christian denominations are quite strict about what they wear to church on Sunday. They have a real sense of dressing their “Sunday best”. If asked why they dress that way, I’m sure they would answer that they see Sunday as the Lord’s Day and they dress up because they are in the Lord’s house. Now these Christians do not have what we have, the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament. Even some non-Christians have very strict dress codes for both religious and secular gatherings.

Too often dress in church has become very casual. We wear the same clothes to church that we wear to the ball game or to a barbecue. True, it does take some preparation and sacrifice during the warm weather, but that is why we have air conditioning. We priests have no choice in what we wear to Mass. Our vestments can be very warm, but we know that at Mass we are engaged in the greatest prayer of all. At Mass we offer the supreme sacrifice of Christ to the heavenly Father. All of us should offer Christ our “Sunday best”. We should dress modestly, not in an immodest way that would draw attention to ourselves. Our dress should reflect who we are, Christians, especially in church. Our good sense should tell us that very revealing, brief, scanty clothing is not appropriate in church where we are offering the sacrifice of the Mass in the presence of the angels.


Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand

Living the Sacaments at SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

This week I’d like to talk about our ministry to the sick. As you know, we offer the sacraments of Penance, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Communion to parishioners who are homebound or live in the many care facilities in our area. When there is an emergency, we may also go to visit a parishioner in a nearby hospital or at their home.

The Lord provides the sacraments for the spiritual health of our sick and elderly to comfort them and strengthen them in time of need. The stories are sometimes very inspiring. For example, recently I visited a local nursing care facility and met a person who had not been to confession for over thirty years. It was a great joy to hear the feeling of relief when the person had finished and was ready again to receive our Lord in Holy Communion after so long a time.

Our Extraordinary Ministers also visit the sick, especially on Sundays when the priests are busy in church. We have about twenty volunteers who visit more than sixty persons to bring them Holy Communion. This is a true work of love, to bring Christ in the Sacrament of love to His people. Jesus says, “I was sick and you visited me.” Our extraordinary ministers of Communion are a great example of stewardship of time, giving of themselves to those who are lonely and in need of healing. Please remember to pray for our ministers who share their time for the good of God’s people.


Speaking of visiting Jesus, we have more adorers on our roster since last week. The blessings of Eucharistic adoration are many. Just recently two young men came to me inquiring about a vocation to the priesthood. You can see that Jesus is blessing our parish already now that we are making Him more available in the Sacrament of his love.

Have a great week,

Fr. Hildebrand

Adoration Chapel at SJB

Dear Friends in Christ,

With the inauguration of our Blessed Sacrament Chapel as a perpetual adoration chapel we enter a new period of evangelization for our parish. Yes, I firmly believe that the fact that many of you are now adorers of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament will make a great difference for our parish. Many graces will come from this new effort to put the Lord at the center of our lives.

You say you haven’t heard that we have perpetual adoration at our church? Well, let me encourage you to join us. Just stop by the chapel and sign up for an hour once a week. You will find that spending an hour in His presence will change your life for the better. Do you suffer from insomnia? Sign up for an hour and receive your personal entry code so that you can come at any time during the night for prayer. Do you want to improve your prayer life? Stop by the book shelf outside the chapel and find a good spiritual book to read while you sit at the feet of Jesus in the tabernacle. Are you looking for companionship? Sign up for an hour of prayer each week and introduce yourself to your fellow adorers. You’ll soon find that you can develop a little cell of prayer partners, a real support group. Then you can stop somewhere for coffee after your hour of prayer is over.We have about 400 persons who have received entry codes. There’s room for about 2,600 more in our computer bank. A word on etiquette for the Blessed Sacrament Chapel: This is a sacred place where the Lord’s Body is reserved. It is proper to genuflect (bend the knee) towards the tabernacle when entering and leaving the chapel. It is a place for prayer, normally silent prayer, meditation, and spiritual reading. A challenge to everyone! We need to have at least four persons for every hour in the week in order to assure that each hour is covered. When we reach that level we will be able to open the panels on the tabernacle for exposition. Let’s reach for that goal. Remember the words of Jesus to His Apostles in the Garden: “Could you not watch one hour with me?” If the Apostles offered a holy hour, then we should do the same. Then we will be more effective apostles at home, in school, at work, or wherever we are.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Hildebrand