February 14-15, 2009
Next weekend Corpus Christi will be awash in delectable tastes and smells as we mark the end of Ordinary Time, in anticipation of Ash Wednesday, with our Mardi Gras Food Fair. At present we have the following items scheduled for your edible pleasures: * Mayette Ramos will be hosting a Taste of the Philippines; *Mira Johnson will tantalize with Croatian Goulash; *Mary Kopinski will share the experience of Ukrainian food; *Dave Bell/POPS – will steer toward PBJ sandwiches for kids (not from the factory in the news!!!) *Jonathan/ Music M. will make our palates sing with Korean BBQ Vietnamese sides; *Patti Fisher and Crew will help cut through the serious food with Sweets from all over; *Guess WHO is offering the ever delectable BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON BACON (but please, no bacon mints or bacon floss or other supposed bacon items please!); and the *The Moran’s will take a culinary bow to our Southern roots with Corpus Christi Creole Stars. Please set aside some extra time to enjoy the items, available for enjoyment after ALL the Masses or for purchase to be enjoyed at home. Thanks.
Some thoughts as LENT approaches…..
Following the exhausting frenzy of Advent/Christmas with its requisite parties, decorating and gift purchasing, Lent can seem downright dowdy. It is initiated with an ashen cross being placed on our foreheads accompanied with a day of abstaining from meat and fasting (cutting back to the equivalent of ONE full meal spread out over the whole day.) This is a far cry from the champagne excess of Christmas gatherings with their flurry of delicious treats being hyped on every magazine cover. We rarely see a cover-story on ‘fasting’ or how to fashionably wear an ashen cross. Yep, Lent does not get much play unless it is to anticipate cooking the Passover Supper or how to dye Easter eggs. Yet, Lent is embraced by most Catholic-Christians as an appropriate time for introspection, an opportunity to consider the direction of our lives, the choices we are embracing, the ramifications of past foibles or miscalculations….all with an eye to making necessary course corrections so as to have a full and happy life in sync with Jesus. While Lent is sometimes portrayed as a period of gloom, doom and deprivation, in reality it is a wonderfully ‘ officially designated time’ by which to take stock of our lives on a yearly basis. This year, Lent begins on Wednesday, February 25th, Ash Wednesday. The ashes come from the burned palms from last year’s Palm Sunday and are meant to physically remind us of the Scriptural admonition to put on ‘sack-cloth and ashes’ as a way of making amends to God for having distanced ourselves from him. Sort of like showing up with flowers at the girlfriends door as an opening symbol of being contrite for a stupid slip of the tongue. The passage of Lent is prelude to the poignant events/story of Holy Week which speaks of the glorious embrace of Jesus by the crowds, who are easily swayed to ultimately reject him, humiliate him and crucify him. Within this story there are the micro-stories of betrayal by both Judas and Peter, of remorse and fear by the disciples, of strength and determination by the women in Jesus’ life…of loss and hopelessness, death and life, love and loss. Wow…sounds like an appropriate story for what many of us may be going through in these tough economic times. So, once again, an invitation is extended….come and receive an Ashen Cross on your forehead…and wear it throughout the day. Don’t just wear it home for dinner after going to an evening service or Mass….wear it when you go to school, when you go to work, when you greet people at the market or when you are chatting with the other parents waiting in line. Thus….we do not offer any evening Ash distribution opportunities…BUT our first Ash Service is at 4:00 a.m.! (And even earlier if you need it…just call.) That allows plenty of time to get up, get ready and still be on time for early morning classes or to catch the freeway drive to LA. The schedule shows you there are other ones after that as well, with the LAST one being 10:00 a.m. With so many things hitting us in these disturbing times, which of us has not caught ourselves saying ‘God, when will all this end?’ Well, why not draw close to Jesus on Ash Wednesday so as to perhaps get some strength to keep going….so close that you get an imprint of a cross on your forehead? I hope to see you during the morning of the 25th! FKB
Read a book, meet some new friends…Please join us on March 2, at 7:00, Room 4, to discuss Peace Like a River by Leif Enger.
Christi Kids Club Winter/Spring 2009 Session begins soon! And we have some super cool additions to the program, especially for our 4th and 5th graders: Christi Kids “Clubhouse”. Too cool to hang with the tots and not quite old enough for JAMS? Christi Kids Clubhouse is for YOU! In addition to all the fun arts and crafts and outreach activities, Christi Kids Clubhouse (4th and 5th graders) will meet for music, and cool games and hang out with Jammers and Havenites.
The fun for all Christi Kids happens Wednesdays, from 4:00 to 5:30 pm, beginning February 18th through May 6th, 2009. Music, arts and crafts, outreach projects, faith and fun for kids K through 5th grade. K through 3rd grade meet in the Good Shepherd room, 4th and 5th (CK Clubhouse)) graders meet downstairs. Christi Kids Club is like a second neighborhood, where our Corpus Christi kids can meet and grow in their faith together. Sign your K through 5th grade child up for this one-of-a-kind program! This session will also include special Lenten activities including a Seder supper. Registration forms are available on the concierge tables and in the Good Shepherd/Childcare room, or by contacting Peggy Armenta at peggyarmenta@corpuschristialisoviejo.org
Please note, the Parish Offices are closed on Monday, February 16 for President’s Day.
