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Jeremiah compares a man who seeks strength in flesh but abandons God to a bush in the desert, bereft of nourishment and unable to grow. Yet a man who trusts in God is like a tree beside a river, fed and strengthened by it even during times of drought.

Paul addresses those who believe in Christ’s teachings, but are not convinced that he rose from the dead. He calls their faith worthless, because they have not been freed from their sins. Paul then emphatically declares that Jesus did rise up again, as will all those who truly believe in him.

Jesus tells his followers that those who are insulted in this life because of him will be rewarded richly in heaven. Yet those well received by all will despair in heaven, since people had often respected false prophets and mistreated true prophets. Those who hunger, perhaps for spiritual knowledge, shall be filled. Yet those who are full in this life will be hungry.

SUPPORT YOUR PARISH

BECOME A BULLETIN BENEFACTOR

It is that time of the year again when we are renewing the list of benefactors for our parish bulletin. This is also a good time and opportunity for you to become a new sponsor for our bulletin.

Donations are $100.00 for the listing throughout the year of your name, or the name of one of your loved ones in remembrance.

If you own a business, or have a friend who owns a business, you may consider putting an ad in our Sunday bulletin. All you have to do is send us your business card and we will do the rest. It is that simple.

Please call the parish office

at (510) 451-1790, Ext. 201.

This year Ash Wednesday is on February 17^th. It is a day of fast and abstinence in the Church.

All are invited to a free monthly program every 2^nd Saturday of each month until August 14 to introduce the Bay Area Manhattan Declaration on the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage, and religious freedom. Lectures begin at 3:00 p.m., followed by a Mass at 5:00 p.m. and reception at 6:00 p.m.

Ernest Pierucci, Esq., Attorney and Senior Fellow, Catholics for the Common Good, will discuss “Prospects for Marriage and the Family in the Current Legal Environment.

This Sunday, February 14, 2010 all of us will have the opportunity to gather in our faith and generously share what we have by supporting the Diocese of Oakland through the 2010 Bishop’s Appeal.

Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010 marks the beginning of our parish’s involvement in Operation Rice Bowl, sponsored by Catholic Relief Services and the Diocese of Oakland. Please take home a cardboard Rice Bowl, available in the vestibule of the Church. Please return your Rice Bowl by Good Friday. A special Collection for Operation Rice Bowl will also be taken up on Ash Wednesday. Proceeds will be send to CRS. Thank you for your involvement.

BIBLE STUDY GROUP

AT OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH

Come and join us for fellowship,

enlightenment and mutual encouragement! The Bible Study Group meets every Wednesday from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at

Our Lady of Lourdes Library on Boden Way.

For more information please call

Michelle Benki at 510-499-2693

BREAKING DOWN ILLUMINES THE DARKNESS

By Fr. Rusty Shaughnessy

Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

When faith arises from the depths of our hopelessness; when we suddenly find forgiveness in a heart filled with resentment; when we discover confidence when fear was about to consume us; this is divine mercy.

Whenever the impossible gift arrives for us, a gift we have neither earned nor deserved, we can do nothing less than rejoice. “By the tender mercy of Our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us.” Luke: 1:78

Fr. Rusty Shaughnessy, OFM is a Franciscan priest and Retreat Master at San Damiano Retreat. Over the years Fr. Rusty has facilitated retreats, workshops, and parish missions internationally. He attended St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, MD where he earned his MA in Theology.

March 19 -21, 2010

WORD INTO SILENCE

On this weekend you will experience Scripture passages for Holy Week, (Lectio), followed by silent sitting meditation in the Christian tradition, six meals and daily Liturgy included, plus optional chair massage and spiritual direction.

Spiritual Director: Sr. Barbara Hazzard.

For information and reservation

please call San Damiano Retreat House

at 925-837-9141 or register online www.sandamiano.org

February 14, 2010 (Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time). The words of the Psalmist echo the theme of all of today’s readings. “Happy are they who hope in the Lord.” As good stewards, firmly ground in that hope, may we bear fruit in due season – assisting the poor, feeding the hungry, and consoling the sorrowful whenever we have a chance.

Creator of goodness and love, hear our prayers for the sick members of our community and for all who are in need. Amid mental and physical suffering may they find consolation in your healing presence. Show your mercy as you close wounds, cure illness, make broken bodies whole and free downcast spirits. May these special people find lasting health and deliverance, and join us in thanking you for all your gifts.

	Our Lady of Lourdes Sunday Bulletin

Sixth Sunday In Ordinary Time February 14, 2010 First Reading: Jeremiah 17:5-8 Jeremiah compares a man who seeks strength in flesh but abandons God to a bush in the desert, bereft of nourishment and unable to grow. Yet a man who trusts in God is like a tree beside a river, fed and strengthened by it even during times of drought. Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15, 12. 16-20 Paul addresses those who believe in Christ’s teachings, but are not convinced that he rose from the dead. He calls their faith worthless, because they have not been freed from their sins. Paul then emphatically declares that Jesus did rise up again, as will all those who truly believe in him. Gospel: Luke 6, 17. 20-25 Jesus tells his followers that those who are insulted in this life because of him will be rewarded richly in heaven. Yet those well received by all will despair in heaven, since people had often respected false prophets and mistreated true prophets. Those who hunger, perhaps for spiritual knowledge, shall be filled. Yet those who are full in this life will be hungry. __________________________________________ *PRAY FOR PEACE* Prayer for Generosity Dear Lord, teach me to be generous; Teach me to serve you as you deserve; To give and not to count the cost; To fight and not to heed the wounds; To toil and not to seek for rest; To labor, and not to ask for any reward – except that of knowing that I am doing your holy will. AMEN. MASS INTENTIONS February 13 – 20, 2010 Sun 9:00 A.M. Baby Fernandez Milardovich + Mon. 8:00 a.m. Timothy Maloney + __________________________________________________ EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS 5:00 P.M. Jean Neuhauser, Elena Bunnell, Tony Elenteny, Nancy Fahey, Sr. Catherine Ginther 9:00 A.M Kimberly Gamboa, Raul Gonzales, Mary Liu, Teresa Picchi, Michael Porcher, Bernadette Ritchey Dane Ritchey, Marites Sanders 11:00 A.M. Lynda Suciu, Nikiya Arcia, Elisa Davila, Dennis Emmett, Sr. Barbara Hazzard, Allie Holley, Jeanette Louden-Corbett Karen Patterson LECTORS 5:00 P.M. Cecilia Pracher, Eileen Herrmann 9:00 A.M. Vincent Morgante, Mel Stenger 11:00 A.M. Sr. Barbara Hazzard, Denise Perry BREAD BAKER Jeanette Louden-Corbett SUPPORT YOUR PARISH BECOME A BULLETIN BENEFACTOR It is that time of the year again when we are renewing the list of benefactors for our parish bulletin. This is also a good time and opportunity for you to become a new sponsor for our bulletin. Donations are $100.00 for the listing throughout the year of your name, or the name of one of your loved ones in remembrance. If you own a business, or have a friend who owns a business, you may consider putting an ad in our Sunday bulletin. All you have to do is send us your business card and we will do the rest. It is that simple. Please call the parish office at (510) 451-1790, Ext. 201. *ASH WEDNESDAY* This year Ash Wednesday is on February 17^th. It is a day of fast and abstinence in the Church. MASSES ARE: 8:00 A.M. 12:10 P.M. 7:00 P.M. Ashes will be blessed and distributed at all the Masses. St. Anthony of Padua Institute Manhattan Forum Lecture Series 2^nd Saturday of each Month through August – 3:00 p.m., at St. Margaret Mary Church, Father Kozina Hall, Oakland. All are invited to a free monthly program every 2^nd Saturday of each month until August 14 to introduce the Bay Area Manhattan Declaration on the sanctity of human life, traditional marriage, and religious freedom. Lectures begin at 3:00 p.m., followed by a Mass at 5:00 p.m. and reception at 6:00 p.m. Saturday, March 13 Ernest Pierucci, Esq., Attorney and Senior Fellow, Catholics for the Common Good, will discuss “Prospects for Marriage and the Family in the Current Legal Environment. For more information on the monthly speaker, visit http://www.sapi.org/200912.htm BISHOP’S APPEAL 2010 February 13 – 14, 2010 To Make Christ Better Known. This Sunday, February 14, 2010 all of us will have the opportunity to gather in our faith and generously share what we have by supporting the Diocese of Oakland through the 2010 Bishop’s Appeal. Please be generous so we can reach our goal for the year 2010. Operation Rice Bowl Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010 marks the beginning of our parish’s involvement in Operation Rice Bowl, sponsored by Catholic Relief Services and the Diocese of Oakland. Please take home a cardboard Rice Bowl, available in the vestibule of the Church. Please return your Rice Bowl by Good Friday. A special Collection for Operation Rice Bowl will also be taken up on Ash Wednesday. Proceeds will be send to CRS. Thank you for your involvement. BIBLE STUDY GROUP AT OUR LADY OF LOURDES CHURCH Come and join us for fellowship, enlightenment and mutual encouragement! The Bible Study Group meets every Wednesday from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Our Lady of Lourdes Library on Boden Way. For more information please call Michelle Benki at 510-499-2693 UPCOMING SAN DAMIANO RETREATS BREAKING DOWN ILLUMINES THE DARKNESS By Fr. Rusty Shaughnessy Ash Wednesday, February 17, 2010 Tuesday, March 16, 2010 When faith arises from the depths of our hopelessness; when we suddenly find forgiveness in a heart filled with resentment; when we discover confidence when fear was about to consume us; this is divine mercy. Whenever the impossible gift arrives for us, a gift we have neither earned nor deserved, we can do nothing less than rejoice. “By the tender mercy of Our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us.” Luke: 1:78 Fr. Rusty Shaughnessy, OFM is a Franciscan priest and Retreat Master at San Damiano Retreat. Over the years Fr. Rusty has facilitated retreats, workshops, and parish missions internationally. He attended St. Mary’s Seminary, Baltimore, MD where he earned his MA in Theology. March 19 -21, 2010 WORD INTO SILENCE On this weekend you will experience Scripture passages for Holy Week, (Lectio), followed by silent sitting meditation in the Christian tradition, six meals and daily Liturgy included, plus optional chair massage and spiritual direction. Spiritual Director: Sr. Barbara Hazzard. For information and reservation please call San Damiano Retreat House at 925-837-9141 or register online www.sandamiano.org Stewardship February 14, 2010 (Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time). The words of the Psalmist echo the theme of all of today’s readings. “Happy are they who hope in the Lord.” As good stewards, firmly ground in that hope, may we bear fruit in due season – assisting the poor, feeding the hungry, and consoling the sorrowful whenever we have a chance. A prayer for the sick Creator of goodness and love, hear our prayers for the sick members of our community and for all who are in need. Amid mental and physical suffering may they find consolation in your healing presence. Show your mercy as you close wounds, cure illness, make broken bodies whole and free downcast spirits. May these special people find lasting health and deliverance, and join us in thanking you for all your gifts. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ who healed those who believe.